Apr 23, 2019

Mental health help included in $85,000 grant to AgriSafe

AgriSafe has received $85,000 in grant funding from CHS Community Giving, the direct grant-making arm of CHS, the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative, to assist in three agricultural health and safety initiatives. CHS Community Giving funding will support expanding mental health services, continuing education for rural nurses, and health/safety training for future agricultural producers.

“Each program offers critical support for managers, farmworkers, young workers and rural health care providers that may be otherwise unavailable,” said Natalie Roy, executive director, AgriSafe. “AgriSafe is thankful that CHS Community Giving has continued to invest in our programming that directly impacts our rural communities for more than 10 years.”

Farmer health and wellbeing have been a prominent conversation among agriculture groups in recent months. The uncertainty of the ag economy, chronic illnesses/pain and lack of access to health services in rural areas are all contributing factors according to recent reports. Through a new initiative called Total Farmer Health, AgriSafe will take a holistic approach to training 300 rural health care professionals and 200 rural influencers to better identify mental health signs and recommend treatment. Farm Credit and CHS are the lead sponsors of the Total Farmer Health initiative.

“As part of the CHS Community Giving focus, CHS believes in the power of partnership to address issues related to rural America,” said Jessie Headrick, director, CHS Community Giving. “We are proud to work with AgriSafe and other industry partners to support the needs and wellbeing of our farmer-owners.”

CHS Community Giving funding also includes ongoing support of AgriSafe’s Invest in Your Health program, a wellness initiative for high school and college agriculture students and the AgriSafe Nurse Scholar program, an innovative distance learning opportunity available to rural nurses throughout the nation.

For information on any of these programs contact, Knesha Rose-Davison, Director of Programs and Communications, 866-312-3002 ext. 002. 

AgriSafe is an international 501©3 organization representing health and safety professionals who strive to reduce health disparities found among the agricultural community. Our mission is to support a growing network of trained agricultural health and safety professionals that assure access to preventative services for farm families and the agricultural community. Our impact is realized across the globe because we utilize web-based technology to deliver the best trainings by experts in the field. For more information, visit www.agrisafe.org.

CHS (NASDAQ: CHSCP) is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, agronomy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to helping its customers, farmer-owners and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, grain marketing services, animal feed, food and food ingredients along with financial and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenexbrand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.