The unpredictability that comes with farming is one factor that can influence the well-being of producers. Crop success is contingent on timing and moisture, and the prices farmers receive for their products are dependent on demand and other external factors.

“It’s an occupation where there is so much out of an individual’s control,” Rudolphi told Agri-Pulse.

Addressing mental health in rural communities comes with its share of challenges, according to Chuck Strand, executive director of the nonprofit Rural Minds. Shortages of mental health professionals can force rural citizens to travel long distances seeking care, and telehealth may not be an option for those who lack internet access. The stigma associated with seeking mental health care can be another barrier, Strand said.

Despite significantly higher rates of suicide among rural residents, mental health resources in rural Kansas continue to be lacking, panelists in Dodge City said last week. Chuck Strand of Rural Minds, a national non-profit, said self-reliance can be a challenge and an opportunity. "Someone mentioned the challenge of people in rural communities being very self-reliant and do-it-yourself," Strand said. "That mindset can be necessary to survive and thrive in rural communities, but it can be a real challenge when that mindset is driving a response to a mental health challenge or a potential mental illness." Rural Minds offers the information and resources so people can do it themselves, he said. Rural communities have a lack of access to both mental and physical health providers, Strand said. Telehealth has filled some of that gap. However, 30 percent of rural homes don't have access to reliable internet access.

Today's show covers an important topic for the agriculture industry; mental health. Tune in and hear what Rural Minds is doing to connect people to resources in their community. CEO, Chuck Strand joins me for today's conversation.