Calls and texts to the AgriStress Helpline, an emergency resource for agricultural communities, have plummeted in Pennsylvania since a federal grant lapsed. Between February 2022 and June 2024, the helpline fielded 107 calls and texts from Pennsylvania farmers and those calling on their behalf, with 58 arriving in the first 11 months after the number launched statewide with a $500,000 federal grant. According to an AgriSafe report, the state has experienced a 300% decrease since 2024.
The 24-hour helpline operates seven days a week across 11 states and is accessible by calling 833-897-2474 or texting PA to 741-741. Staffed by crisis professionals trained to respond to agriculture-related issues, it has received more than 1,600 calls and texts in the four-plus years since launch. Top issues include losses from disasters and lack of money to buy essentials to operate.
AgriSafe suggested the drop may be tied to reduced promotion after the grant lapsed, though the helpline remained open. For comparison, Texas has received 366 contacts since February 2022 and benefits from a robust suicide awareness and prevention program targeting agricultural communities. This year, Pennsylvania will allocate $100,000 from the state’s Farm Bill to support the helpline, though the budget does not directly fund promotion. State officials plan to publicize the resource through social media, outreach, and events.
Experts note that farmers face compounding stressors including weather, commodity prices, supply chain disruptions, and workloads. Nationally, agriculture has the fourth-highest suicide rate of any occupation. Researchers recommend creating a counseling voucher program, hiring behavioral health specialists within agriculture, offering baseline crisis hotline funding, reducing health insurance costs, improving child care access, and creating paid family and medical leave options for self-employed farmers.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.explorevenango.com/local/2026/04/15/hotline-for-pa-farmers-sees-major-drop-in-calls-texts-amid-mental-health-crisis-620825/