USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced an investment of nearly $25 million for 50 grants supporting Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Networks. Those go to State Department of Agriculture Projects. Minnesota’s share is $500,000 and goes to their mental health initiative. State Farmers Union President Gary Wertish says incidents that farmers have no control over has heighted the amount of stress they’re receiving and dealing with.

He says Minnesota’s Agriculture Department has been on top of this issue and having the federal aid will help them follow through on helping as many people as possible.

Wertish says stress factors in farm country have been rising and the pandemic just made all of that worse.

The Minnesota Rural Health Initiative with this latest grant will be able to provide, support and promote services such as mental health counseling, farm advocates, marriage retreats and a 24/7 Farm and Rural Hotline.