RICHMOND—As Mental Health Awareness Month continues in May, agricultural groups throughout Virginia are emphasizing that farmers and agricultural workers have access to support services and resources during difficult times.
Agricultural producers in Virginia and nationwide face mounting pressure from distinctive daily obstacles. Beyond the physical requirements of their work, farmers must navigate natural catastrophes that destroy their harvests, volatile market prices, trade interruptions, rising costs, and additional factors beyond their control that can overwhelm even the strongest individuals.
“And when the farming community is suffering, all of those businesses and employees associated with agriculture are struggling too,” noted Lynwood Broaddus, Caroline County Farm Bureau president. “There’s a lot of stress out there that people hold in, and it might not come out until it’s too late.”
Following their participation in training through the American Farm Bureau Federation Farm State of Mind program, Lynwood and Becky Broaddus have conducted farm stress workshops for agricultural producers, industry professionals, and various groups throughout Virginia—highlighting available support services, resources, and warning signs of stress while assuring those facing difficulties that help is available.
During a presentation to local producers in January, the Broadduses distributed farm stress informational materials created by the AgriSafe Network—sparking a joint initiative to place these resources in U.S Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency state offices.
A government worker who attended the meeting contacted Wilmer Stoneman, state executive director of the FSA in Virginia, about placing the materials in her FSA location. The following day, Stoneman got a call from another office regarding a struggling farmer who needed assistance.
“The Farm Service Agency, Virginia Cooperative Extension and Farm Bureau offices are places that farmers come to get help,” Stoneman said. “The least we can do is provide information that can help a farmer through a stressful time.”
Virginia Farm Bureau produced and delivered copies of the resources for display at counters in all state FSA locations—making sure visitors can easily obtain information about farm stress support services, including the AgriSafe Network’s AgriStress Helpline®. The helpline offers confidential assistance to the agricultural community around the clock. Farmers can call or text 833-897-2474 for direct emotional support, guidance, and resources from qualified professionals.
“The ‘S’ in FSA stands for Service, so it’s our mission to help farmers with all the things they’re dealing with,” Stoneman added. “That’s why this project was so important to us, and I firmly believe that it has helped a number of people. I know it’s helped at least one.”
Broaddus, who assisted in delivering the informational materials to state FSA locations, explained that “if we can help one person get through a difficult time, we’ve been successful.”
Those interested in arranging for the Broadduses to conduct a mental health workshop or presentation should contact Lynwood.
Furthermore, AFBF introduced a new tool this month designed to help farmers determine how to respond when stress becomes unmanageable and they feel lost.
AFBF’s Farm State of Mind Checklist: Weathering the Storm provides straightforward steps that farmers and their families can implement to handle overwhelming emotions, avoid burnout, and gain perspective—such as ensuring proper nutrition, hydration, and rest; taking time for meditation, prayer, or breathing exercises; reaching out to friends and colleagues; and telling their story.
The complete checklist is available for download at FarmStageOfMind.org.
Agricultural producers can find support from others facing similar challenges through Togetherall, an anonymous peer-to-peer digital platform that helps farmers and their families receive and provide mutual support.
Additional resources are available at AgriSafe.org or VFB’s farm safety web page.
