LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- In response to a rising mental health crisis in rural America, federal lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday that would step up funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, a program that connects farmers, ranchers and other agriculture workers to stress-assistance programs.

The so-called "Farmers First Act" introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate would increase funding for the program from $10 million to $15 million annually for the next five years.

The additional funding for a grant program would allow grant recipients to hire more staff to help support farmers, including behavioral health specialists to counsel ag workers and farmers who are military veterans.

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. The same legislation was introduced in the House by Reps. Angie Craig, D-Minn., and Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa.

Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to a study by the National Rural Health Association.

According to a news release from Baldwin and Ernst, four regional centers established through the program are increasing access to farm stress services including expanding access to hotlines, training for recognizing the signs of depression, anxiety or suicidal ideation, while also creating support groups for ag workers.

In the Senate, the bill is also co-sponsored by Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., Tina Smith, D-Minn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine.

The "Farmers First Act" has been endorsed by several agriculture and other groups including the National Farmers Union, National Rural Health Association, National Milk Producers Federation, Agriculture Retailers Association, The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, Organic Trade Association, American Psychological Association Services, NCBA CLUSA, Farm Credit Council, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Organic Farmers Association, National Pork Producers Council, American Soybean Association, Midwest Dairy Coalition, Farm Aid, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Organic Coalition, Farmer Veteran Coalition and American Farm Bureau Federation.

"Wisconsin's farmers and ranchers work hard every day to keep their businesses running and our 'made in Wisconsin' agricultural economy moving forward," Baldwin said in a news release.

"But 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."

Ernst said farmers work from sunrise to sundown and "their work isn't easy and mental health issues, including suicide, are too common in our agriculture community."

"Feeding and fueling the world is hard work that comes with unique challenges for farmers and producers," Craig said in a news release.

"Yet, too often, rural communities are overlooked when it comes to providing mental health resources and tools. That's why I'm working across the aisle to connect farmers, farm workers and rural Minnesotans with the mental health resources and stress management tools they need to succeed."

National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said the legislation is needed because many rural areas still don't have the mental health support they need.

"The 'Farmers First Act' will help get essential resources to farmers who are struggling," Larew said.

Kenneth Hartman Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association, said farmers need more resources to manage the stresses of agriculture.

"Farmers face incredible stressors in their day-to-day work and often feel as though the weight of the world rests on their shoulders as they navigate tough times while maintaining farms that have been passed down through multiple generations of family members," Hartman said in a statement.

"Yet, they often find it hard to access the mental health tools they need to cope with these challenges."

Read more on DTN:

"A Farmer's Plea: Speak the Truth About Mental Health," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

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