New Was to Contact MDA’s Farm & Rural Helpline

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has developed and made available to farmers two new ways to contact the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline, text and email. This confidential service is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It connects farmers and others in rural communities with counselors that can serve as a resource for emotional support, link callers with a rural health specialist, or help find information about legal and financial resources.

Contact options include: phone toll free 833-600-2670. text FARMSTRESS to 898211 or email farmstress@state.mn.us. "We want to make it as easy as possible for our farmers to get the help they need when they need it," said Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Peterson. "COVID-19 has come on top of several years of high costs, low prices, and bad weather for farmers. We know chronic stress takes a toll on people and can really affect the way they cope with challenging situations."