The North Central Farm and Ranch Assistance Center is one of four across the country providing stress and mental health resources to farmers and the ag community.

Josie Rudolphi with the University of Illinois Extension, which houses the center, tells Brownfield it works across a 12-state region.

“It’s a very stressful occupation in general,” she says.  “We know this last year has been even more stressful and so the need for resources and services is at its peak.”

She says mental health resource shortages are exasperated in rural areas which is why their community-based approach is focused on creating online and phone resources, as well as in some states supporting mental health service vouchers.

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