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Experts tell Senate to expand mental‑health resources for farmers; FarmNet cited as model
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Summary
Witnesses at a Senate Aging Committee hearing highlighted elevated mental‑health risks among farmers and presented land‑grant extension programs such as New York FarmNet and the Farm Bureau’s Farm State of Mind as models for expanded, toll‑free crisis and counseling resources.
Academic and industry witnesses told the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging that farmers face elevated rates of depression and suicide and that accessible, tailored mental‑health services are urgently needed. "It's okay not to be okay but it's not okay not to talk about it," Zippy Duvall said, describing Farm Bureau outreach and peer‑support efforts.
Dr. Chris Wolf described Cornell’s New York FarmNet program, which operates a toll‑free line and a team of financial and mental‑health professionals. "FarmNet receives about 700 calls a year resulting in about 400 new cases being opened," Wolf said, and he reported that FarmNet assisted farm businesses in 2024 representing over $13,000,000 in revenue, 600 employees and more than 80,000 acres in production. Witnesses and senators said expanded crisis lines, telemedicine access and public‑awareness campaigns could reduce stigma and improve help‑seeking in remote areas.
Senators referenced prior proposals to create a national hotline for agricultural crisis response. Witnesses recommended better funding for extension and peer‑support programs, collaboration between USDA and land‑grant extension networks, and outreach tailored to rural and farm communities. No formal legislative action was taken at the hearing; senators asked for additional information and pledged to consider statutory and funding options.
