FARMERS FIRST Act

Facilitating Accessible Resources for Mental health and Encouraging Rural Solutions For Immediate Response to Stressful Times Act or the FARMERS FIRST Act

This bill amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants to state departments of agriculture, state cooperative extension services, and nonprofit organizations for cooperative programs to establish farm and ranch stress assistance networks.

The networks must provide stress assistance programs to farmers and ranchers, including counseling and support through:

• telephone helplines and websites,
• training for advocates for affected individuals,
• support groups,
• outreach services and activities, and
• home delivery of assistance for farm residents who are homebound.

USDA must coordinate with the Department of Health and Services (HHS) to establish the grant program and a National Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to coordinate the stress assistance programs on a national scale.

USDA and HHS must also establish an advisory committee to report on the state of behavioral and mental health in farmers and ranchers.