Aurora Cooperative is proud to join the Nebraska Cooperative Council and the agricultural community in supporting Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day today, May 29, 2025. This designation follows a unanimous bipartisan resolution passed by the United States Senate, sponsored by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

The resolution highlights the alarming statistic that the suicide rate for farmers is 3.5 times higher than that of the general population, and that farmworkers have a rate 1.4 times higher. By designating May 29th as Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day, the aim is to raise awareness around mental health challenges within the agricultural industry and to reduce the associated stigma. Farmers and agricultural workers encounter unique challenges that effect their mental well-being.

The resolution also underscores resources available from the Department of Agriculture, urging the agricultural sector to leverage Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day to promote well-being and awareness. Find those resources here.

Rocky Weber, President of the Nebraska Cooperative Council, shared his thoughts on the resolution:

“The Nebraska Cooperative Council stands with Nebraska’s agricultural community in supporting Mental Health Awareness Day in Agriculture. Nebraska’s agricultural cooperatives are farmer and rancher owned. Farming is more than a profession—it’s a way of life, filled with both rewards and challenges. Unpredictable weather, fluctuating markets, long hours, and isolation can take a significant toll on the mental well-being of those who feed and fuel our world. We recognize the unique mental health challenges faced by our farmers, ranchers, and cooperative employees as they labor season after season through great uncertainty to feed the world. The Council is grateful to U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (NE) for co-sponsoring this bipartisan Senate Resolution. One of the key principles of agricultural cooperatives is community support. The Nebraska Cooperative Council and its farmer-owned cooperative members are committed to promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and advocating for increased access to mental health resources across rural Nebraska. Together, we can ensure that the well-being of those who feed and fuel our nation remains a top priority.”

We deeply appreciate Senator Fischer’s leadership in addressing this vital issue. Her efforts in passing this bipartisan resolution offer us a platform to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health in agriculture.