- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Pennsylvania Farmer Hotline Sees Drastic Call Drop
Mental health crisis leads to 300% decline in calls and texts to state support line.
Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:06pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
An X-ray view into the hidden mental health challenges facing Pennsylvania's farming community.State College TodayA Pennsylvania hotline that provides mental health support and resources for farmers has seen a staggering 300% drop in calls and texts over the past year, raising concerns about a growing crisis in the state's agricultural community.
Why it matters
Farmers have long faced high rates of stress, anxiety, and depression due to factors like unpredictable weather, economic instability, and social isolation. The sharp decline in hotline usage suggests these mental health challenges have only intensified, potentially leaving many farmers without access to critical support.
The details
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture operates a free, confidential hotline that connects farmers with counseling, financial assistance, and other resources. However, the number of calls and texts to the hotline has plummeted from over 1,200 in 2024 to just 400 in 2025, a 300% decrease.
- The hotline saw over 1,200 calls and texts in 2024.
- In 2025, the number of calls and texts dropped to just 400, a 300% decline.
The players
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
The state agency that operates the free, confidential hotline providing mental health support and resources for farmers.
What’s next
State officials plan to launch a new awareness campaign to encourage more farmers to utilize the hotline and seek mental health support.
The takeaway
The drastic decline in calls to Pennsylvania's farmer mental health hotline underscores a growing crisis in the agricultural community, where factors like economic instability and social isolation have taken a severe toll on the wellbeing of the state's farmers.
