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Committee hears request to continue farm safety and rural mental‑health funding; asks for details
Summary
Senate File 2809 would continue prior MDA funding for farm safety and rural mental‑health work; supporters urged continuation of $100,000 and highlighted helpline and community trainings.
Senate File 2809, carried by Senator Coonish, asked the committee to continue a state appropriation to support farm safety and rural mental‑health programs administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Senator Coonish described the appropriation as a request for $100,000 in fiscal year 2027 to continue MDA’s work on farm safety and the Farm and Rural Helpline and related trainings. Hunter Peterson of Minnesota Farm Bureau testified in support, stressing higher rates of mental‑health challenges among farm populations and the industry’s dangerous working conditions. Gail Donkers, representing Minnesota Farmers Union and speaking from personal experience, described using SafeTalk and other MDA‑supported trainings and said the programs helped her intervene and assist community members in crisis.
Paul Hugunin of MDA’s Ag Marketing and Development Division confirmed the department has used prior one‑time funding for this work and that the earlier allocation is largely committed; he said the agency is on track to expend prior appropriations and that continued funding would support outreach, training and helpline operations.
After testimony, the committee laid Senate File 2809 over for possible inclusion; no appropriation was approved at the March 24 hearing.
