The downturn in the ag economy has brought on high levels of farm stress, suicide rates and opioid abuse among farmers. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson has been in North Dakota and Iowa this week speaking about these problems. He says there’s no doubt the depressed farm economy is the cause of stress among farmers and it’s not getting any better.

He says farmers have the highest suicide rate of any occupation in the U.S.

Johnson says 60 percent of rural areas are deficient in mental health care nationwide. And opioid abuse in rural areas is also on the rise.

Johnson says economic stress is different for farmers because when they lose their farm, they also lose their home.