Healthy Farmers, Healthy Farms
Farm Strong NH is a collaborative effort to address structural root causes of farmer stress, mental health, and suicide in New Hampshire. This statewide effort is supported by the Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Network, a regional and national network, to build behavioral health awareness, literacy, access, and outcomes for farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers in the Northeast. You can learn more about the efforts at a regional level here https://www.youngfarmers.org/frsan-ne-about/
Our goal is to alleviate the stressors of farming by:
- Providing funding to vendors to pay for services that address root cause issues of farmer stress
- Building farmers’ skills through education
- Developing and collecting informational resources in an on-line resource library
- Connecting farmers with their peers for practical and confidential assistance
- All services are available as first come, first served, until funds run out.
More About Ways To Get Help
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Mental Wellbeing
Mental Well-being
Let us help you take the stress out of farming by connecting you with confidential therapeutic support. You can call 1-800-429-7153 to be connected directly with a licensed mental health professional. The program will provide up to $1,440 per farm owner or worker, to cover at least twelve (12) therapy sessions, primarily through tele-health. We have identified a handful of therapists that both understand the nature of farm life and have participated in a training to help them better understand the unique experiences and needs of farmers.
Social Work / Case Management Support
We all want the best for our family. Could you use assistance navigating resources in your community for you and your family? A Social Worker can help! Issues like insurance, food instability, and childcare issues can be complicated to understand. Let us help you steer you in the right direction.
Please call our Mental Health Hotline: 1-800-429-7153 where you will be connected with a social worker.
BLOG: Taking Care of Your Mental Health - Tips for Farmers
Mental Well-Being Resources
Farm Stress and Emotional Well-Being Part I, ATTRA NCAT
This publication was developed to be used by anyone working or living in the farming world. It addresses reducing and managing stress, risk factors, emotions, and spirituality.
Farm Stress and Emotional Well-Being Part II, ATTRA NCAT
This publication was developed to be used by anyone working or living in the farming world. Part-two addresses substance-use disorder, family relationships, suicide, and therapy.
Talking Total Farmer Health Podcast, AgriSafe Network
A monthly podcast tackling important safety issues relevant to producers and ag workers.
Explore men's mental health resources with Man Therapy®
Designed to help men or anyone with a man in their life (partner, brother, uncle, son, friend, etc.) deal with issues like depression, anxiety, anger, and suicidal thoughts
UNH Extension Health & Well-Being Team
Thriving Youth - Promoting positive youth development
Youth Programs - Resources that prioritize young people's mental wellness
Aging Well - Prioritizing building aging friendly communities and helping individuals achieve optimal health and well-being
Legal
We will connect you with a lawyer for up to $3,000 per farmer for services like:
- Appraisals
- Business Structures
- End of life documents – trusts, wills, powers of attorney
- Farm transfer - purchase and sales, easements
- Leases & Rentals
- Neighbor Conflicts
- Succession planning process
- Zoning Issues
Legal Aid
Farm Strong NH (FRSAN) is partnering with the NH Legal Food Hub to offer legal assistance for NH farmers. The NH Legal Food Hub has its own independent program to provide pro-bono legal assistance for farmers and food businesses who meet certain economic thresholds. You can review their eligibility requirements here.
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements with Legal Food Hub services, Farm Strong NH can help offset up to $3,000 in legal fees per farmer. To enroll with our legal services, give us a call.
Questions? Call the Farm Strong - NH (FRSAN) resource line 1-800-785-7914 or email us at FRSAN.NH@unh.edu
Fill Out Application for Legal Services
Answers to Legal Questions
Need legal direction or background? Do you have questions about farm law but don't know where to start for answers? Are you unsure if your issue requires an attorney? Or, maybe you just want more background on a legal subject you're exploring?
Using a platform developed by Farm Commons we have the ability to answer farmers’ legal questions. Farmers submit their questions to extension staff at FRSAN.NH@unh.edu we will upload these for review by Farm Commons lawyers. This is an educational service to provide direction or background, it is not a meeting with an attorney nor a specific legal opinion.
Podcast
Here are episodes we recommend from our friends at Farm Commons Podcast:
Episode 52: Getting on a Roll with Payroll - payroll can be a confusing, but it doesn't have to be!
Ep 51: Legal Considerations for Working Interviews - risk management techniques to consider when using working interviews.
Ep. 47: Hiring Workers Through the H-2A Visa Program - how to navigate hiring H-2A workers and if it's a good fit for your farm.
Ep. 46: Avoiding Discriminatory Questions in Interviews - includes questions prohibited from asking during an interview.
Ep. 45: Why Some Farms Pay Wages as Salary - legal experts explain how paying employees via salary can be a strategic option for farmers and ranchers who are required to pay overtime.
Ep. 44: Farmland Leasing 101 - staff attorney Sarah Vaile breaks down what a lease is, how it functions, and the creative power you have to shape how it works.
Ep. 43: Unlock the Potential of a Farm Employee Handbook - the surprising efficiencies and improvements that farm employee handbooks can provide for your operation.
Ep. 42: Avoiding Discrimination in Hiring and Firing on New Hampshire Farms - how to identify and avoid (accidental) discrimination in employment law on your farm so that you can manage your workforce with confidence.
Ep. 41: Choosing a Business Structure Together - how to choose the right business structure when operating the farm with others.
Ep. 40: Farm Couples and Managing Stress through Paperwork - the powerful role of paperwork in managing business and personal stress when farming with a spouse or romantic partner.
Ep. 39: Farming with Family – Getting in and getting out - key legal considerations for setting up a farm business with family members.
Financial
Running a farm can also bring the stressors of farm financial management. We have a variety of tools plus one-on-one services to help address some root causes of farm financial stress you may be experiencing. We offer up to $2,500 per farmer for:
- Tax Planning
- Financial Record Keeping
- Financial Analysis
If you want to discuss your farm's financial stress, please call 1-800-785-7914 and leave a message that you would like to have a conversation.
Mediation
If you have a problem with a lender, creditor, USDA program, neighbor, or need assistance with a lease, labor or contract issue, or a farm transition, we are partnering with NH Agriculture Mediation to help you resolve the situation.
What is Mediation? An informal process where parties meet with a neutral person who helps in the negotiation of differences. It is a voluntary and confidential alternative to traditional legal and regulatory processes. The mediator does not determine who is legally right or wrong nor will the mediator tell either party what to do. Mediation leaves the decision-making power totally and strictly with the parties. Mediators work with all parties to: Eliminate communication obstacles, Facilitate a calm and rational discussion, Identify and clarify the issues, Explore options, Record agreements.
Visit the NH Agriculture Mediation Webpage to request a session.
Peer to Peer Networks
Farmer to Farmer Support Network with Vital Communities
Interested in connecting with other farmers? Vital Communities plans to host a series of storytelling and discussion events to foster community amongst farmers, particularly with regards to shared challenges or stresses of farming.
If you're a farmer or farm group looking for more information, contact Cameron Huftalen at cameron@vitalcommunities.org or 802-291-9100.
NH Queer Farmer* Network
A group of farmers are working together to forge a network of queer farmers. The group meets informally both online and on farms to form community, assess needs, and share opportunities. Email nhqueerfarmers@gmail.com to connect.
*Note: “N.H. queer farmers” means anyone who is a farmworker, farmowner, or aspiring farmer/homesteader who is living and/or working in the state of New Hampshire and identifies with the word queer.
BIPOC Farmer Network
Working with staff at the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project at the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success, we are providing resources and trainings specific to the groups' needs. This includes peer-to-peer support, mental well-being, tax, and financial literacy training. Please contact Anthony Munene if you wish to connect: amunene@refugeesuccess.org
Not in a crisis and want to speak with someone?
Mental Health Hotline
1-800-429-7153
Confidential support with a NH-based licensed therapist. Please leave a voicemail; we aim to return calls within 24 hours.
Farm Strong-NH Resource Line
1-800-785-7914
For all inquiries about all our offerings for N.H. farmers. Please leave a voicemail; we aim to return calls within 24 hours.
NH Psychiatric Crisis Services
1-833-710-6477
Call or text the New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point or visit www.NH988.com to chat with a trained professional.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-8255
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. You do not need to be suicidal to call.
Professional Services and Technical Assistance for Farmers:
Through this USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, with the Farm Strong NH (FRSAN) project we can pay vendors to deliver services to farmers. We have identified a core group of vendors; however, if a farm has relationship with a vendor not already onboarded, we can add them as a vendor.
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Mental Health – up to 6 visits per farmer
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Farm Financial Analysis
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Tax Planning/Succession Planning
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Legal Assistance
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Debt Analysis/Credit Mediation
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Farmer-to-farmer support network
Monies will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis until gone.
- UNH Extension
- National Young Farmer Coalition
- NH Farm Bureau
- NH Department of Agriculture Markets and Food
- NCAT/ATTRA
- NH Agriculture Mediation
- USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Farm Strong NH (aka Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network - FRSAN) project 2021-09294 -thru the State Departments of Agriculture grant
- USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Farm Strong NH (aka Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network - FRSAN) project 2019-70028-30464 and 2020-70028-thru the National Young Farmers Coalition
