Resources for Farmers

Disaster Assistance

Assistance is available for eligible agricultural producers and timber owners who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program will provide direct aid in the 27 localities affected by Hurricane Helene. Aid will be available for qualifying on-farm building structures, roads, bridges, culverts, above ground irrigation, aquaculture infrastructure, plasticulture, timber, economic losses for perennial crops, and market losses. For more complete information including the list of affected areas, qualifying losses, application instructions, and additional details, please visit the Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program.
For resources on hurricane relief and Hurricane Helene, visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension website.
For emergency relief funding, farmers should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency office to see if they are eligible for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). Once you have applied for ECP, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District.
See this recovery flowchart for assistance. (Download a printable version with QR code links.)
See more information here for USDA Low-Interest Physical Loss Loans.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board have authorized Soil and Water Conservation District Boards in the counties listed below to provide planting date extensions of up to 14 days for the following cover crop practices: SL-8B, SL-8, SL-8A, SL-8H, SL-8M, NM-7, WFA-CC, and WQ-4.
- Bedford, Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe Counties and the independent Cities of Bristol, Covington, Danville, Galax, Norton, and Radford.

Farmer Mental Health Resources

Farming is demanding work, both physically and mentally. Virginia's agricultural producers face a unique set of pressures: fluctuating commodity prices, rising input costs, unpredictable weather, and increasing financial uncertainty. These stressors can take a real toll, and research shows that suicide rates among farmers are significantly higher than in the general working population. Recognizing that, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has compiled the following resources for producers, farm families, and farm employees who may be struggling or looking for support. Reaching out is a sign of strength, and help is available.

AgriStress

AgriStress is a national non-profit organization focused on the occupational health and safety of agricultural workers. A 24/7 mental health crisis helpline is available in Virginia with support available in 160 languages. The helpline line is staffed specifically to support agricultural producers and farm families in crisis. Call or text: 1-833-897-2474. Access the helpline.

FarmAid

Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Connecting farmers to needed resources, FarmAid also maintains a farmer hotline (1-800-327-6723 or I-800-FARM-AID) and also has a Request for Assistance Form. Learn more.

FARMVA

FARMVA provides mediation services to help resolve disputes between agricultural producers and USDA agencies and farm credit lenders, as well as disputes involving other agricultural issues. They may also be reached at 828-200-5261. Learn more.

Rural Health Information Hub

A federally supported resource hub with in-depth information on farmer mental health, including data, research, and links to programs and support services nationwide. Learn more.

Togetherall

A free, anonymous, online peer support platform available to all U.S. farm families through the Farm State of Mind Alliance. Available 24/7 and accessible to farm family members aged 16 and older, the platform connects users with a community of peers and is backed by licensed clinicians who monitor the community around the clock. Learn more.

Virginia Cooperative Extension

A Farm Safety, Health and Wellness Toolkit is available for farmers, farm families, and farm services providers. The resources included in this toolkit detail how to make choices that promote the mental and physical health of farmers and farm families, as well as the financial health of the farms they operate. This toolkit also offers resources with coping strategies for handling farm stress and grief. Learn more.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Farmer Stress Resources

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services maintains a dedicated page linking to farmer stress and mental health resources across the Commonwealth. Learn more.

Virginia Farm Bureau

Virginia Farm Bureau maintains a collection of mental health resources for farmers, their families, and farm employees on its website, including links to the Farm State of Mind initiative and peer support tools. Learn more.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Anyone experiencing a mental health emergency can call or text 988 to reach a trained crisis counselor, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at no cost.