S. 2282: Farmers First Act of 2025

The Farmers First Act of 2025 aims to amend the existing Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network established under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The main goals of the bill are to enhance mental health support for farmers and ranchers, specifically addressing the pressures and challenges they face in their professions. The key components of the bill include:

1. Expansion of Support Services

The bill specifies that the assistance network should include crisis lines to provide immediate help for individuals in distress. This addition is intended to create a more comprehensive support system for farmers and ranchers dealing with mental health issues.

2. Increased Funding

The legislation proposes to increase the funding allocated to the program from $10 million per year (for the previous funding period of 2019 to 2023) to $15 million per year from 2026 to 2030. This increase in financial resources is designed to better equip the program to meet the needs of the agricultural community.

3. Referral Relationships

The bill enables grant recipients of the assistance network to establish referral relationships with various healthcare providers. This provision aims to ensure that farmers and ranchers have access to:

• Certified community behavioral health clinics, which offer mental health services.
• Health centers, providing primary and preventive care.
• Rural health clinics, delivering care in underserved areas.
• Federally qualified health centers, which are community-based organizations providing comprehensive care.
• Critical access hospitals, supporting health services in rural locations.

These referral relationships are intended to connect individuals with behavioral health counseling and wellness support more effectively.

4. Comprehensive Scope of Treatments

The farmers and ranchers' assistance program aims to provide a comprehensive scope of mental health and substance use treatments and supports. This means that the services might include a range of behavioral health services tailored to the specific needs of this community.

5. Connection to Behavioral Health Resources

The requirement for grant recipients to focus on connecting individuals to appropriate behavioral health resources is aimed at addressing the growing concern over mental health in the agricultural sector.

6. Implementation and Oversight

The bill stipulates that the changes made will be implemented with the oversight of the relevant agricultural and health authorities, ensuring that the programs created or enhanced are effective and meet the intended goals.

Conclusion

This legislation reflects the emphasis on the mental health of those in the farming and ranching professions, acknowledging the unique stressors they face and the need for dedicated support services.

Relevant Companies

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