The Farmers First Act of 2025 updates and strengthens a federal program that helps farmers and ranchers dealing with stress, mental health challenges, and substance use issues. Right now, the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network provides counseling and support services to agricultural workers who are struggling—whether from financial pressures, health problems, or other hardships common in farming communities.

This bill makes two main changes. First, it expands the types of help available by specifically including crisis lines as part of the support services. Second, it increases funding for the program from $10 million per year to $15 million per year, extending it through 2030. This extra money allows the program to reach more farmers and ranchers who need help.

The bill also improves how the program connects people to mental health care by allowing the stress assistance network to partner with various healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas—including community health clinics, rural hospitals, and federally qualified health centers. This means when a farmer or rancher reaches out for help, they can more easily be connected to comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment services in their area. Overall, the bill prioritizes farmer wellbeing by making mental health support more accessible and better funded.

Farmers First Act of 2025

Baldwin, Tammy

Farmers First Act of 2025This bill extends through FY2030 and revises the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). This Department of Agriculture program provides competitive grants to states, Indian tribes, and qualified nonprofit organizations to provide stress assistance programs (i.e., professional agricultural behavioral health counseling, helplines, and resources) to individuals engaged in farming, ranching, and agriculture-related occupations.The bill specifies that the grant funding for farm telephone helplines and websites may also be used for crisis lines.Further, FRSAN grant recipients may establish referral relationships with providers, including Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, health centers, rural health clinics, and critical access hospitals.