Page 7 - KMA Ag Mag 2020

KMAland 2020 Overcoming Current Challenges in the Ag Community 7

family for generations. Their role as a farmer is more optimism now when meeting with bankers,
their identity… it’s their culture, not just a job. especially with those producers who have diversi-
And it’s been a challenging few years, especially fied – row crops, hog facilities, windmill payments.
in southwest Iowa. Mental health concerns for However, those farmers with debt may have
farmers are not getting better, but they are not issues when they do their taxes or when they meet
necessarily getting worse either. Farmers received with their bankers. They may start to see how
a little boost with an increase in commodity prices much they have lost in equity or capital. Some
this year, but were numbed that after the trade may start to see damaging economic distress and
agreement with China was signed commodity have to liquidate land or machinery. And again,
prices went down. The USDA Market Facilitation suicide rates are particularly high for farmers, espe-
Payments have helped, so there may be a little cially after economic crises.

ISU EXTENSION AND OUTREACH CURRENT RESPONSE:
“Helping Iowans Help Each Other”

• Iowa ConCern HotlIne
w 24/7 phone support - 1-800-447-1985

w live chat, e-mail an expert
w Confidential help from trained professionals
w Stress counseling, financial concerns, legal education, resources, referral
w Have seen some uptake in calls
w will be expanded with USDa nIFa funding

• Mental HealtH FIrSt aID (MHFa)
w 8-hour training focusing on mental health literacy and skills to help someone
experiencing a mental health crisis
w Program will be offered at eight sites across Iowa in 2020, including Sioux City,
Chariton, Dubuque, Urbandale, Mason City, Spencer, Muscatine, and Council Bluffs,
USDa nIFa funded so can offer to agribusiness professionals and producers at
NO cost.
to register go to: http://bit.ly/mentalhealth14526. agribusiness professionals/ advocates
can use the registration code ADVOCATE to register at NO cost

• QUeStIon. PerSUaDe. reFer. (QPr)
w 1-1½ hour program designed to teach lay people and professionals about the
warning signs of a suicide crisis and the appropriate responses
w Can be offered as a stand-alone program or as a breakout session at larger
conferences at no Cost due to USDa nIFa funding.

For more information, contact Dr. David Brown, dnbrown@iastate.edu or 515-294-0860