Baldwin, Ernst presents Bill to stimulate the farmers’ mental health program

A Bipartisan Senate duo wants to ensure that a suicide and mental health prevention resource for farmers remains funded.

Sense. Tammy BaldwinD-wis., And Joni ErnstR-IOWA, have united their forces to introduce legislation that would see millions of new funding for the FARM and Ranch Assistance Network, a program in which the pair collaborated for the first time in the 2018 FARM Bill.

The program is designed to help create a network for farmers, breeders and other agriculture workers to access stress assistance and mental health programs. There are four regional centers in Washington, New York, Illinois and Tennessee who act as conduits to help farmers as part of the subsidy program.

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Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin made a speech during the National Democratic Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, August 22, 2024. (Jacek Boczarski / Anadolu via Getty Images)

“Too often the stress, isolation and physical requirements of this work leave them nowhere where it turns too much,” said Baldwin about stress and mental health struggles faced by farmers and agriculture workers.

Indeed, farmers are about three times more likely to die by suicide than the average American population, according to a study by the National Rural Health Association.

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Senator Joni Ernst, R -Iwa, talks to journalists from the American Capitol on November 19, 2024. (Images Kevin Dietsch / Getty)

Their bill, called the 2025 farmers First Act, would increase the financing of the $ 75 million program over the next five years, of which $ 15 million will be available each exercise from 2026 to 2030.

Money would be used to hire more behavioral health specialists, to establish crisis lines and to establish reference relationships with health care providers, health centers and critical access hospitals.

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Representative Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, descends the steps of the House after a vote in the Capitol on Thursday, April 27, 2023. (Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, included via Getty Images)

“Iowa farmers work tirelessly from sunrise to sunset – rain or good weather – to nourish and feed the world,” said Ernst. “Their work is not easy, and mental health problems, including suicide, are too common in our agricultural community, which is why I work for farmers to have better access to mental health resources.”

The program obtained a setback in funding in 2020, when a three -year tranche of more than $ 28 million was made available to regional hubs. This funding was again strengthened during the COVVI-19 pandemic, when the congress injected an additional $ 28 million to allow states to maintain their own stress assistance programs. This last funding was made available thanks to subsidies up to $ 500,000 to state programs.

The bill is also a bicameral effort. Rep. Randy FeenstraR-Iowa and Angie Craig, d-minn. Put the invoice to the House to strengthen the financing of the program.

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FeenStra argued that the filling of the program chests of the program would provide “farmers a real support in times of crisis”.

“Agriculture is the economic engine of Iowa, and our farmers and producers work long hours and make invisible sacrifices to feed and feed our country and the world,” he said. “These sacrifices can wreak havoc on our agricultural producers, especially when the prices of raw materials tumble or bad weather destroy cultures.”