Page 28 2026 Fall Farm Outlook Lincoln Daily News Oct 2026 changing in many ways. Age can also affect the circumstances farmers face. Researchers examining suicide deaths among farmers and ranchers from 2003 through 2018 found that a substantial portion involved people age 65 or older. The circumstances associated with those deaths were not necessarily the same for every generation. Problems involving personal relationships appeared more often among younger farmers in the study, while physical health difficulties became increasingly important among older farmers. Those differences suggest that suicideprevention efforts need to recognize where a farmer is in life. Someone beginning a farming career and struggling with relationships or financial obligations may need a different kind of support from an older producer dealing with pain, declining health, retirement, or questions about the future of the farm. Firearms and Moments of Crisis Firearms also need to be considered when discussing suicide prevention in farming communities. In the study examining farmer and rancher suicide deaths from 2003 through 2018, approximately 74% involved a firearm. Firearms have legitimated and common uses in rural America, including hunting and protecting livestock. The research does not establish that owning a firearm causes someone to become suicidal. Instead, the finding is important because access to a highly lethal method can become especially dangerous when someone is experiencing an immediate suicidal crisis. Creating additional time and distance between a person in crisis and a lethal method can provide an opportunity for the immediate danger to pass or for someone else to intervene. Finding Help That Fits Farm Life Preventing farmer suicide involves making assistance practical for people whose lives do not always fit traditional office schedules. Programs created specifically for agricultural communities can help because the people providing assistance may better understand the realities of farming. Through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, the U.S. Department of Agriculture supports regional programs aimed at connecting agricultural communities with stress assistance and mental health resources. Agricultural organizations, Extension professionals, healthcare providers, lenders, veterinarians, and clergy may also be in
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzExODA=