Farm Bureau, Morning Consult explore mental health on the farm

Ray Atkinson provides analysis on Fastline Fast Track Episode 10

Buckner, KY, USA – WEBWIRE – Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Ray Atkinson, Director of Strategic Communications for Washington, D.C.-based American Farm Bureau Federation

According to the poll results, 91 percent of rural adults and 82 percent of farmers/farmworkers said mental health is important to them. The poll also showed that 31 percent of rural adults have personally sought mental health care, and another 24 percent have had a family member seek care.

A new poll conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation and Morning Consult shows that the majority of U.S. farmers and farmworkers view mental health as important, but more work needs to be done to remove the stigma around the issue.

May is Mental Health Month, and Farm Bureau officials wanted to highlight the need for greater education about mental health and resources available to those on farms and in rural areas of the country. Ray Atkinson, Director of Strategic Communications for Washington, D.C.-based American Farm Bureau Federation, joined Fastline Fast Track Host Brent Adams to discuss the poll on Episode 10 of the podcast.

According to the poll results, 91 percent of rural adults and 82 percent of farmers/farmworkers said mental health is important to them. The poll also showed that 31 percent of rural adults have personally sought mental health care, and another 24 percent have had a family member seek care.

Of those farmers and farmworkers surveyed, 91 percent said financial issues had the biggest impact on their mental health. That was followed by farm or business problems (88 percent) and fear of losing the farm (88 percent).

“Farmers are used to dealing with unique and unpredictable circumstances such as the weather and fluctuations in commodity market prices, but I think we’re in a unique situation now because there are so many things happening at once,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson said Farm Bureau is urging Congress to fully fund the $10 million appropriated in the 2018 farm bill for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. The organization also will work with its local chapters nationwide to identify mental health resources available to farmers and ranchers.

Also on Episode 10, Adams talked with Joel Basinger from John Deere about the company’s 1,600-gallon R4060 and updated R4045 sprayer for 2020 and Andy Junkin, CEO of Solon, Iowa-based Agriculture Strategy, discussed helping farm families come together to make better decisions for their operation.

The episode also features the music of Marty Brown, performed live at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, 417 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee. Brown wrote the 1998 smash hit “I’m From the Country” for Tracy Byrd and has written hits for Brooks and Dunn, Trace Adkins and William Michael Morgan. He appeared on “America’s Got Talent” in 2013, and on May 17, will release his first studio album in 25 years, “American Highway” on Plowboy Records. The first single, “Umbrella Lovers” is now on country radio.

About Fastline Fast Track
Fastline Fast Track is a bi-weekly podcast, produced by Fastline Media Group and hosted by Brent Adams, that can be found at http://fasttrack.fastline.com. It also is available at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and TuneIn. The podcast is aimed at helping people in the agricultural community understand important industry issues, make informed equipment purchases and find innovative ways to save time and money. In additional to agricultural topics, Fastline Fast Track includes country living features and the best in traditional country music, presented by the historic Ernest Tubb Record Shop, 417 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee.

About Brent Adams
Brent Adams is the Director of Content for Fastline Media Group. He is an award-winning, 24-year veteran, broadcaster, print journalist and public relations professional. He has worked in television and radio in Louisville, Kentucky, and as an editor for print publications in Louisville, Kentucky, and Indianapolis, Indiana. He also has served as Director of Public Relations and Broadcasting for the Louisville Fire and Kentucky Xtreme indoor football teams, for the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree Association in Nashville, Tennessee, and for various Nashville-based country music artists.

About Fastline Media Group
Fastline Media Group has grown from a traditional magazine and print business to a full-service digital and data-centered operation that provides mixed marketing solutions to the agriculture and related industries. The company produces 22 farm industry catalogs, digitally and in print, across the United States. Fastline also owns i3 Digital Agency, MCW Printing and provides marketing and business intelligence to the agriculture and related industries.
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