'Better access': Bipartisan Senate push to fund farmers suicide prevention fund gains steam

A bipartisan Senate duo want to ensure that a suicide prevention and mental health resource for farmers stays funded.

"Too often, the stress, isolation, and physical demands of this job leave them with nowhere to turn when it all gets to be too much," Baldwin said of the stress and mental health struggles faced by farmers and agriculture workers.

Indeed, Farmers are about three and half times more likely to die by suicide than the average U.S. population, according to a study from the National Rural Health Association.

Their bill, called the Farmers First Act of 2025, would boost funding for the program by $75 million over the next five years, of which $15 million will be made available each fiscal year starting in 2026 through 2030.

The money would go toward hiring more behavioral health specialists, establish crisis lines, and build referral relationships with health care providers, health centers and critical access hospitals.

"Iowa farmers work tirelessly from sunrise to sundown - rain or shine - to feed and fuel the world," Ernst said. "Their work isn't easy, and mental health issues, including suicide, are too common in our agriculture community, which is why I'm working to ensure farmers have better access to mental health resources."

Feenstra argued that refilling the program's cash coffers would provide "farmers with real support in times of crisis."

"Agriculture is the economic engine of Iowa, and our farmers and producers work long hours and make unseen sacrifices to feed and fuel our country and the world," he said. "Those sacrifices can take a toll on our farm producers, especially when commodity prices tumble or severe weather destroys crops."