Dr. Elaine Johannes is the Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Professor in Community Health for KSRE and is a state Extension Specialist. We sat down to talk about mental health in agriculture and rural communities. While it's just the tip of the iceberg, we discussed issues and concerns regarding stress and mental wellness for agricultural producers and their families, as well as opportunities and resources.

There has not been a publication in relation to the referenced survey conducted by K-State's Ag Safety and Health program. Information provided in this podcast is based on preliminary findings from this survey.

Resources:

Surgeon General's report on the epidemic of Social Isolation and Loneliness

You have most likely heard people promoting the idea of deducting excess/residual fertilizer when buying farm ground. So, what does it mean? Is there a deduction available? If so, what documentation do you need? We invited Kristine Tidgren, Director for the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, to discuss and help us understand this popular topic.

Resources:

https://www.calt.iastate.edu/blogpost/considering-residual-fertility-deduction

The 2018 Farm Bill was extended in December of 2024. With the deadline to sign up for ARC/PLC approaching in April, we sat down with Robin Reid to discuss the programs and what to consider when making program decisions. Also included in the bill were ad hoc payments, currently being referred to as Economic Assistance Payments, for farmers. We discussed some details related to these payments and how they are calculated.

Resources:

ARC/PLC Decision Tool: https://agmanager.info/ag-policy/2018-farm-bill/tradeoff-between-20252026-arc-and-plc

Economic Assitance Payment Calculator: https://agmanager.info/ag-policy/2025-economic-assistance