The Personal Toll of Farm Stress

Kittson County Commissioner Theresa Gillie told Minnesota lawmakers that federal actions and rising costs are creating severe stress for farmers and rural communities. Speaking at a Senate hearing, Gillie described the ongoing struggles in the ag markets and highlighted the personal toll of economic pressures. “When I was elected president of Minnesota Soybean Growers back in 2016, three out of every five rows of soybeans went out to the Pacific Northwest and were sold to China,” testified Gillie. “Even with the talks of tariffs back in 2017, our buyers started looking elsewhere.” As a result, markets fell dramatically. “My husband and I talked about stopping farming, but one morning, my husband killed himself; I live with that every day.” Gillie also stressed the financial pressures on younger farmers and the broader community, citing rising health insurance and fertilizer costs, as well as the strain on local services. Gillie called for stronger support for Farm Business Management, rural mental health counselors, and state mediation programs to help farmers navigate these challenges.