RURAL RESILIENCE: A SAFETY NET FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS

Legislative update Rural Resilience: A Safety Net for Farmers and Ranchers BY DAVID WHITE, ACCOUNT MANAGER FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Farming is a stressful job, even in good times. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic turmoil has only added to the stress farmers are already feeling. Rural communities also face challenges: isolation, lack of mental health professionals and a perceived stigma about seeking assistance for mental health concerns. Farmers and rural community members need resources to help manage their own stress while they support

DAVID WHITE their friends and neighbors. While the general public reads media reports about the stress farmers and farm families face, AgCredit’s member-borrowers live it every day. For this reason, the Farm Credit System, of which AgCredit is a proud part, has created a free, online stress-management course in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, Michigan State University Extension and University of Illinois Extension. The course is also open to members of the general public. Rural Resilience is designed to help participants:

Understand sources of stress.

Learn the warning signs of stress and suicide.

Identify effective communication strategies.

Reduce the stigma related to mental health concerns.

Connect farmers, their families and rural community members with appropriate mental health and other resources. The course features engaging content, self-paced activities, voiceover slide presentations and downloadable resources. It will take approximately two and a half hours to complete all three units. For more information, please visit farmcredit.com/rural-resilience. AgCredit has compiled a list of other great resources you may want to explore on this topic. Use your phone camera to take a picture of the QR code, which will take you directly to each site. More resources are also available at AgCredit.net.

A Five-Step Approach to Alleviating Farm Stress

https://morrow.osu.edu/sites/morrow/files/imce/ A_Five_Step_Approach_to_Alleviating_Farm_Stress.pdf

How Stress Affects You

https://morrow.osu.edu/sites/morrow/files/ imce/How%20Stress%20Affects%20You.pdf

Manage Stress to Increase Farm Safety

https://morrow.osu.edu/sites/morrow/files/imce/ Manage%20stress%20to%20increase%20farm%20safety%20.pdf

Farm Stress Resources

https://putnam.osu.edu/program-areas/agricultureand-natural-resources/farm-stress-resources

For the Individual Feeling Pressures of Farm Life

https://u.osu.edu/2019farmassistance/whatresources-are-available-to-help-me-cope-with-farm-stress/