Farm Stress Management

Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) program provides a funding opportunity to establish a network that connects individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations to stress assistance programs. The establishment of a network that assists farmers and ranchers in time of stress can offer a conduit to improving behavioral health awareness, literacy, and outcomes for agricultural producers, workers and their families.

Applications may only be submitted by a collaborative state; tribal; local or regionally-based network, or partnership of qualified public and/or private entities. These collaborations may include the following entities: Indian tribes, State departments of agriculture, State cooperative extension services; and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). View the program webpage for current information on funding opportunities and timeline.

Farm and Ranch Stress and Well-Being

Farmers and ranchers know how to take care of their animals and crops, taking careful steps to ensure that they are healthy and safe. Unfortunately, they don't take the same care in monitoring and managing their own mental and physical stress and fatigue. In addition to managing their agricultural operation, producers are feeling the stress of dealing with many important issues such as low commodity prices, uncertain farm policy, and increasing input costs. Even long-time producers are finding it more difficult to not only manage their farm/ranch but to manage their personal life on a day-to-day basis, leaving many searching for a way out. The North Central Center has been researching available services in each state and will post them on this page as they become available. We urge anyone who may be feeling tremendous strain to seek out help and hopefully these resources will be of assistance.

National Resources:National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255);suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx;Crisis Text Line:Text "GO" to 741741

Veterans Crisis Line: 800/273-8255, press 1; Find Local Mental Health Treatment Services: 877/726-4727

North Central State Resources:

Illinois: Illinois Agriculture Mediation Program: 618-549-1200, ext.1001

Indiana: Rural Services of Indiana, Inc.: 574-299-9460

Iowa: Iowa Concern: 800-447-1985; Iowa Mediation Services, Inc.: 515-331-8081

Kansas: Kansas Ag Mediation Services: 800-321-3276

Michigan: www.canr.msu.edu/managing_farm_stress

Minnesota: Minnesota Farmer Assistance Network: 877-898-6326 or 651-201-6327

Missouri: Missouri Agricultural Mediation Program: 573-751-5520

Nebraska: Nebraska Rural Response Hotline: 1-800-464-0258; Nebraska Department of Agriculture Negotiations Program: 800-446-4071

North Dakota: North Dakota 211 Help Line Mental Health Association: 800-472-2911; North Dakota Agricultural Mediation Services: 800-642-4757 or 701-328-2061

North Dakota Mediation Service: 844-642-4752 or 701-328-4158

South Dakota: South Dakota Ag Mediation Program: 605-773-5436 or 605-280-4745; South Dakota Rural Help Line: 800-664-1349

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Farm Center Hotline: 800-942-2474

This is a list of known resources currently available. If you know of other resources and links that would be valuable to share, please contact us at blubben2@unl.edu or clockert2@unl.edu.