A couple of bills are moving forward at the Minnesota State Capitol that provides additional money and resources for mental health counseling for farmers.

Representative Jeanne Poppe of Austin. A one-time appropriation of $100,000 would be used to help cover costs to support farmers in need of counseling services statewide.

Another bill provides additional money for the Agricultural Centers of Excellence. One million dollars would be provided over the next two years to help support ag, natural resources and horticulture programs. And Keith Olander with AgCentric says it would make more mental health services available for farmers…

Minnesota farms in 2018 had the lowest median income for at least 23 years–and it was the 6th year in a row with low profitability for farmers.