Empathy for ag could go a long way

Four years ago, during the legislative session, a lawmaker circulated talking points noting farmers could afford more taxes because they earned $250,000 working part-time.

This legislative session, during a work session on rural and agricultural mental health, a legislator asked how farmers and people living in urban environments were different.

During the same work session, another legislator asked how unions were involved in mental health respite activities in agriculture.

Suicide rates in agriculture are 3.5 times higher than that of the general population of the United States. Yet, service...