South Dakota Soybean Leader Warns: Financial Strain Taking a Toll on Farmers’ Mental Health

Soft commodity markets and ballooning expenses have put many farmers in financial difficulty, increasing stress and taking a toll on their mental health. Tanner Hento says it’s important for those facing hard times to seek help. Hento, second vice-president of the South Dakota Soybean Association, says there’s help available, and it’s easy to access over the phone.

“Through the USDA, we have the Avera Farm and Rural Stress Hotline, and that number is 1-800-691-4336,” Hento said. “And this has everything available to you as far as just somebody to talk to, financial resources, anybody who might have a different perspective on your farm. So, whatever you’re going through, whether it’s emotionally, financially, through these times, you’re not alone.”

The hotline, operated by Avera Health System, connects callers with mental health professionals who offer emotional support, as well as guidance on financial resources and farm management advice. It’s one of several services listed on the USDA’s Farm Stress and Mental Health Resources webpage.

“If you start looking at refinancing, if you need an opinion on how your operation is doing as a whole, you can have somebody look at it objectively how things are going,” said Hento, adding that sometimes, just having another perspective makes a big difference.

Hento, a farmer from Avon, South Dakota, speaks candidly about the personal toll farming can take. Having lost a parent to suicide, he understands how quickly financial pressures can turn into emotional isolation.

“They think ‘I’m the only one going through this, nobody can help me, I don’t want to talk about this.’ And those are really valid emotions, those are really valid feelings,” he assured, “but first off, you’re not alone; $3 corn is here. It’s not fun, and it is challenging.”

While Hento is deeply committed to promoting soybeans through the Soybean Checkoff, he says the well-being of farmers comes first.

“Not only do we care about promoting your product, we care about you as a human,” he said. “So, that’s the biggest thing that we want to promote, even more than the importance of our checkoff dollars, is that you’re ok as a human.”