Why It Matters
Welcome
When nearly 1 in 3 Georgia farmers think about suicide each month and almost half battle chronic loneliness or depression*, the health of our agricultural community—and the future of Georgia agriculture itself—is at stake. Farm stress erodes decision‑making, safety, and family stability, ultimately rippling through local economies and the state’s food supply.
As an affiliate of the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB), the Foundation is uniquely positioned to respond. GFB’s 158 county offices interact with producers every day—at the co‑op counter, the sale barn, and kitchen tables. By equipping this trusted network with clear tools and trainings—conversation guides, QPR Gatekeeper and Mental Health First Aid classes, and quick‑referral resources—we turn everyday relationships into a powerful frontline of care.
Our commitment is simple:
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Listen to the data. Farm families are asking for help; we answer with evidence‑based programming.
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Leverage our reach. County Farm Bureau staff and volunteers know their neighbors better than any outside agency.
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Strengthen the safety net. Partnering with GFB and the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance, we ensure every producer has someone to talk to and a path to professional help before a crisis strikes.
By investing in farmer mental health, the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture protects the people who feed, clothe, and fuel our state—and keeps Georgia agriculture strong for generations to come.
Farmer WellBeing Study
Data‑Driven Insights Guiding Our Support Programs
A two‑phase study by the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, and Mercer University’s Rural Health Sciences Ph.D. program surveyed more than 2,100 Georgia producers (farm owners, workers, managers, and spouses). Results reveal that:
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High stress & worry: Over half spend 1–3 hours a day worrying; 50 % report loneliness or depression.
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Suicidal thoughts: 31 % of pilot respondents and 60 % of first‑generation farmers in the statewide survey considered suicide in the past year.
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Top stressors: COVID‑19 impacts, weather‑driven income swings, retirement savings, and succession planning.
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Gaps in care: 50 % lack basic medical access; < 25 % can reach a psychologist; limited access drives higher stress and unhealthy coping (alcohol, self‑harm, OTC or illicit drugs).
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Coping resources scarce: Two‑thirds have no access to recreational outlets that support healthy coping.
These findings underscore the urgency of expanding mental‑health services and peer‑support training across Georgia’s farm communities.
Farmer
Peer-to-Peer Support
158 Georgia Farm Bureau county offices turning daily check‑ins into life‑saving conversations
Our research shows that conversations with trusted friends or family are farmers’ strongest buffer against stress and suicidal thoughts.
To amplify that natural safety net, we equip all 158 Georgia Farm Bureau county offices—the people who greet producers every day—with streamlined training, quick‑reference materials, and direct links to professional help, so they can notice trouble early, start supportive talks, and guide neighbors to the right resources.
Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance
Working together to build a resilient ag community
GAWA is a statewide coalition of organizations, agencies, and individuals—farm groups, universities, healthcare providers, faith communities, agribusinesses, and farm families—working together to advance health, safety, and well‑being across Georgia agriculture.
United by a shared mission to foster networks of well‑being through collaboration, education, research, and advocacy, we pool resources and expertise so every rural community has stronger support.
Who can join? Anyone committed to farm‑family wellness: producers, spouses, Extension agents, clinics, churches, ag businesses, educators, and concerned neighbors.
Add your voice and help cultivate a healthier agricultural Georgia.
How You Can Help
Stand with the people who feed Georgia.
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Donate to expand mental‑health programs and disaster‑relief grants
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Partner with us to bring peer‑support resources and trainings to your county
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Share our tools — hotline magnets, conversation guides, QPR & MHFA classes — with every farm family you know
