On July 8, Meg Moynihan, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) ‘farm stress lady’ and Angie Peltier, UMN Extension crops educator, joined UMN Extension IPM educator Anthony Hanson for a discussion about some of the unique stressors associated with farming and the many resources available to assist those experiencing it. This was an episode of the 2026 UMN Extension Strategic Farming: Field Notes series of webinars.
This program runs from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. each Wednesday morning through at least August 12, through the generous support of the farm families of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council.
A session focused on farm and rural stress, unique aspects related to producing crops or raising livestock, and some of the taxpayer-funded resources available to assist farmers experiencing stress. The culture of rural Minnesota is such that while many seem to know much of others’ personal business, folks worry that it would be considered ‘prying’ to broach the subject of farm or rural stress with folks who might be struggling. But sometimes it is these interactions with others that can save the life of someone considering suicide. Therefore, a webinar/podcast devoted to discussing farm and rural stress was both IMPERATIVE for all and uncomfortable for many.
Talking about the trend of fewer humans farming larger tracts of land and how this has impacted rural stress, Moynihan stressed, “We’ve lost a lot of the human beings who used to be on the land, so folks might not have the support network with an army of peers being in the same boat with you.” This makes the many taxpayer-funded resources provided by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to assist folks dealing with farm stress all the more important. “We are unique in Minnesota in that the legislature appropriates funds for farm and agricultural mental health services. We have three women who are licensed mental health practitioners. They provide services to farmers, farm family members, and others connected to agriculture who are struggling with psychological or emotional issues; it’s free and completely confidential.”
For more information about coping with farm and rural stress visit the MDA’s farm resources at https://www.mda.state.mn.us/about/mnfarmerstress or UMN Extension’s resources at https://extension.umn.edu/stress-and-change/rural-stress. For those who missed this session, it is now available to listen to on your favorite podcasting platform or online at: https://strategicfarming.transistor.fm/#.
