Farm Aid had a chance to talk to CBS News recently about the farm economy and farmer mental health. Our conversation touched on trade, immigration, healthcare, and other policies exacerbating farmer stress, as well as solutions, like supply management in the dairy industry.
Farmers are currently enduring a more than 50% drop in net farm income and we know that there is a real lack of mental health resources in rural America.
We are very glad that CBS and many other news outlets are still covering the story of the farm economy and how it contributes to farmer stress. In spite of the recent retraction by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) around a question of their methodology, as Farm Aid has stated, it is important that we continue to highlight and investigate and rectify the situations that put farmers in danger of losing their farms. Farmers are currently enduring a more than 50% drop in net farm income and we know that there is a real lack of mental health resources in rural America. Regardless of the specific numbers, farmers need our support and farm policies that pay them a fair price and let them access fair markets.
The coverage of the suicide rate for farmers has served as a critical reminder to the public about the condition of our farms and our rural economies, and it’s crucial to uncover the full picture. At Farm Aid, we spend our time on the phone with anxious farm families who cannot make ends meet, and who will not be able to improve their situation simply by working harder. Confusion and lack of resolution on policies like trade, immigration and healthcare accelerate the crisis.
Watch the interview segment from CBS News here:
