U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh will be in Wisconsin this week to kick off a series of events across the country highlighting the USDA's efforts to support the vitality and mental wellbeing of our nation's farm producers. Bronaugh will take part in a roundtable on farmers' mental health in Arlington on Friday. The event coincides with May being Mental Health Awareness month.
The deputy secretary says producers face a number of stressful challenges, ranging from volatile market demand for their products to bad weather. The agriculture department has worked to ensure that farmers and families in rural communities have access to the resources they need to address mental health challenges.
In October, the agency announced an investment of nearly $25 million for 50 grants supporting Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, which connect farmers, ranchers, and others in agriculture-related jobs to stress assistance programs, which provide vital support, ranging from mental health and legal issues to family and youth stress.
Categories: Wisconsin, Government & Policy