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POLL SHOWS adults to say the pandemic has The Midwest Cattleman · February 4, 2021 · P12
continued from page 3 impacted their mental health a FINANCES AND THE
The survey of 2,000 rural
lot. adults was conducted by Morn- FARM - KANSAS STATE
for farm and ranch families and • Farmers and farmworkers ing Consult in December. It also UNIVERSITY ONLINE
rural communities. The pandem- were 10% more likely than rural identified the main obstacles to
ic added a mountain of stress adults as a whole to have expe- seeking help or treatment for COURSE
to an already difficult year for rienced feeling nervous, anxious a mental health condition, the This self-paced course for ag
farmers and they need to know or on edge during the pandemic most trusted sources for infor- producers can fulfill FSA borrower
that sometimes it’s OK not to be (65% vs. 55%). mation about mental health, requirements.
OK, that people care, and that • The percentage of farmers/ impressions of the importance “It is important, especially
there’s help and hope.” farmworkers who say social iso- of mental health in rural com- during these challenging times,
The results of the new poll lation impacts farmers’ mental to be proactive with your farm fi-
clearly demonstrate that the health increased 22% since April munities and the importance of nancial management,” said LaVell
reducing stigma surrounding
COVID-19 pandemic is having 2019, a significant finding given mental health. Winsor, agricultural economist
broad-ranging impacts among the long hours many farmers If you or someone you know with the K-State Research and
rural adults and farmers/farm- work alone. is struggling emotionally or Extension Farm Analyst Program.
workers. Key findings include: • Half of rural adults (52%) has concerns about their men- “Making this training online and
• Two in three farmers/farm- aged 18-34 say they have self-paced means individual pro-
workers (66%) say the pandem- thought more about their men- tal health, visit the Farm State ducers or farm families can com-
of Mind website at farmstateof-
ic has impacted their mental tal health during the COVID-19 mind.org where you can find plete the six lessons at a time that
health. pandemic, more than other age crisis hotlines, treatment loca- works best for them and from the
• Rural adults were split groups. comfort and safety of their own
on COVID-19’s impact. Half of • Three in five rural adults tors, tips for helping someone in homes or offices.”
emotional pain, ways to start a
rural adults (53%) say the pan- (61%) say the COVID-19 pan- conversation and resources for The course is similar to the
demic has impacted their men- demic has impacted mental managing stress, anxiety or de- popular in-person Farm Finan-
tal health at least some, while health in rural communities. pression. cial Management classes held this
44% say it has not impacted Farmers/farmworkers were time last year that drew nearly
their mental health much or at more likely than rural adults American Farm Bureau 700 participants.
all. to say COVID-19 has impacted Federation “Many of the participants from
• Younger rural adults were mental health in rural commu- our classes last winter expressed
more likely than older rural nities a lot (37% vs. 22%). that they would like to complete
this material with their spouse or
other shareholders on their farm,”
CONSERVATION program marked its 35-year MU EXTENSION said Robin Reid, an extension
economist with K-State’s Depart-
continued from page 3 anniversary in December 2020. continued from page 3 ment of Agricultural Economics.
Program successes include:
or low-yielding acres, which pro- • Preventing more than 9 secutive Tuesdays in March: “This online course will give them
vides tremendous benefits for billion tons of soil from eroding, March 2. Explore resources that opportunity.”
stewardship of our natural re- which is enough soil to fill 600 offered by the Missouri Depart- This year’s training can be
sources and wildlife.” million dump trucks. ment of Agriculture and MU taken for educational purposes
Through CRP, farmers and • Reducing nitrogen and Extension for producers selling only, but also has been approved to
ranchers establish long-term, phosphorous runoff relative to local food. fulfill requirements for Farm Ser-
resource-conserving plant spe- annually tilled cropland by 95% March 9. Learn the state vice Agency borrower’s training fi-
cies, such as approved grasses and 85%, respectively. regulations you need to know to nancial credit, Winsor said.
or trees, to control soil erosion, • Sequestering an annual av- sell your meat and poultry local- The six-lesson classes will delve
improve water quality and en- erage of 49 million tons of green- ly and hear about best practices into such topics as balance sheets,
hance wildlife habitat on crop- house gases, equal to taking 9 from a successful livestock pro- income statements and cash flow.
land. Farmers and ranchers who million cars off the road. ducer. Depending on the type of farm they
participate in CRP help provide • Creating more than 3 mil- March 16. Learn the state operate, participants can choose
numerous benefits to their local lion acres of restored wetlands regulations you need to know to either a Cattle and Crops case
region and the nation’s environ- while protecting more than sell your produce and/or eggs. farm or a Community-Supported
ment and economy. CRP general 175,000 stream miles with ri- March 23. Learn the state Agriculture (CSA) and Farmer’s
signup is held annually and is parian forest and grass buffers, regulations you need to follow to Market case farm for which they
competitive; general signup in- which is enough to go around sell value-added products such can complete hands-on financial
cludes increased opportunities the world seven times. as canned foods, baked goods, activities.
for wildlife habitat enrollment • Benefiting bees and other etc. The Finances and the Farm
through the State Acres For pollinators and increasing pop- Cost is $15 per session or $40 training prepares participants to
Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) ulations of ducks, pheasants, for all four sessions. All sessions use financial management tech-
initiative. turkey, bobwhite quail, prairie will be recorded and available niques and to set goals for their
New cropland offered in the chickens, grasshopper sparrows, for a period of time after the own operations, plus learn about
program must have been plant- and many other birds. event. making changes to avoid financial
ed for four out of six crop years All USDA Service Centers A limited number of need- difficulties, Reid said.
from 2012 to 2017. Additional- are open for business, including based scholarships are avail- Bonus content includes infor-
ly, producers with land already those that restrict in-person vis- able. For more information, con- mation on determining the costs of
enrolled but expiring on Sept. its or require appointments. All tact Leslie Bertsch at BertschL@ production, grain marketing and
30, 2021, can re-enroll this year. Service Center visitors wishing Missouri.edu. family communication.
The acreage offered by produc- to conduct business with FSA, MU The fee for those taking the
ers and landowners is evaluated Natural Resources Conserva- course for educational purposes
competitively; accepted offers tion Service or any other Service only is $100. For those seeking
will begin Oct. 1, 2021. Center agency should call ahead FSA credit, the fee is $300. Ad-
Signed into law in 1985, and schedule an appointment. ditional information about this
CRP is one of the largest pri- USDA training and other topics can be
vate-lands conservation pro- found at www.agmanager.info.
grams in the United States. The