S 2282119th CongressIn Committee

Farmers First Act of 2025

Introduced: Jul 15, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-Wisconsin)

Agriculture & Food

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Farmers First Act of 2025 would reauthorize and expand the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), which provides mental health and wellness support for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. The bill increases funding for the program and broadens how it can connect people to care. Notably, it adds crisis lines to the network’s scope, raises the annual funding level to $15 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 (up from the prior level of $10 million in earlier years), and allows grant recipients to establish referral relationships with a range of health care providers to help individuals access mental health and substance use treatment.

Key Points

1Reauthorizes the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network as part of the Farm Bill framework and continues federal support for rural mental health and wellness efforts.
2Expands the network’s scope to include crisis lines as part of the services provided or linked to the program.
3Increases authorized funding to $15,000,000 per fiscal year for 2026 through 2030 (up from $10,000,000 for earlier years), signaling a stronger, longer-term commitment.
4Allows grant recipients to establish referral relationships to expanded provider types to help connect individuals with care, including:
5- certified community behavioral health clinics
6- health centers (as defined in the Public Health Service Act)
7- rural health clinics
8- Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)
9- critical access hospitals
10The bill is titled the “Farmers First Act of 2025” and was introduced in the Senate in July 2025.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Farmers and ranchers, and rural communities, who may experience stress, mental health challenges, or substance use issues.Secondary group/area affected: Health care providers and systems serving rural areas (e.g., community behavioral health clinics, FQHCs, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals) that would participate in referral networks.Additional impacts: Increased federal funding and a broader, more integrated approach to connecting rural residents with mental health and substance use treatment, including crisis-response resources. Administrative and programmatic changes for grant recipients to establish and manage provider referrals.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 8, 2025