WASHINGTON — The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) joined 35 farm, rural, and health organizations in a letter calling on Congress to expand mental health and stress assistance resources for farmers by reauthorizing the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) in the upcoming farm bill.
“That such a diverse coalition could form around a single farm bill issue illustrates just how universal and urgent this challenge is,” said Andrew Bahrenburg, NYFC’s national policy director. “Any organization that works with farmers understands the financial stress and emotional fatigue that farmers of all ages can experience. We cannot ignore that as Congress writes the next farm bill.”
The letter follows last month’s introduction of the STRESS Act (H.R. 5259) by a bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives. The bill would establish the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to coordinate stress assistance programs for farmers and ranchers, including crisis hotlines, educational and outreach services, and the training for farmer advocates. The FRSAN was authorized by Congress in 2008 but never received funding.
The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) is a national advocacy network of young farmers fighting for the future of agriculture. Visit NYFC on the web atwww.youngfarmers.org, and on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
–National Young Farmers Coalition
For more articles concerning health issues, click here.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
HARRISBURG, Pa. — As part of a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture effort, funded by a USDA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) Grant, several free mental wellness and farm stress resources are available to the Pennsylvania agriculture community. The Center for Dairy Excellence, Center for Beef Excellence, Center for Poultry & Livestock, PA Beef […]
ORONO, Maine — University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer two free, in-person workshops in October for farmers, farm workers, fishers and foresters with a focus on body mechanics, injury prevention, movement, health and wellness. The Safe Labor–Movement workshops are from 9–11 a.m. Oct. 9 at Triple Chick Farm, 1142 Maine Route 102, Bar Harbor; […]
ORONO, Maine — University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer two free, in-person workshops in August for farmers, farm workers, fishermen and foresters with a focus on body mechanics, injury prevention, movement, health and wellness. The Safe Labor–Movement workshops are from 5–7 p.m. on Aug. 16, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, 294 Crosby Brook Road, […]
ALBANY — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced that an investment of nearly $25 million for 50 grants supporting Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) State Department of Agriculture (SDA) projects. NY FarmNet and New York State Agricultural Mediation Program (NYSAMP) received $500,000 to support this work […]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced an investment of nearly $25 million for 50 grants supporting Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) State Department of Agriculture (SDA) projects. “NIFA’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network connects farmers, ranchers, and others in agriculture-related occupations to […]
