The AGCO Agriculture Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to alleviating hunger through sustainable agricultural development, has announced an exciting new collaboration with The Do More Agriculture Foundation. With a pledged investment of $150,000 over three years, the AGCO Agriculture Foundation aims to bolster farming communities throughout the U.S. and Canada, particularly by facilitating access to mental health resources and promoting awareness of their importance and availability.
This partnership with The Do More Agriculture Foundation underscores a mutual commitment to fostering resilience, offering assistance, and dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health within the agricultural sector across North America.
Roger Batkin, Chair of the AGCO Agriculture Foundation, emphasized the unique challenges faced by farmers in their daily endeavors. “As a Foundation, we are dedicated to championing programs and initiatives that tangibly impact the lives of farmers and their families,” he stated. “Expanding our farmer mental health initiative to encompass the U.S. and Canada allows us to address the escalating mental health crisis among farmers and assure them that support is within reach.”
As part of this collaboration, the AGCO Agriculture Foundation assumes the role of presenting sponsor for the #TalkItOut video series, designed to foster candid conversations about mental health issues pertinent to the agricultural community. Furthermore, the partnership will introduce co-branded mental health support stickers featuring QR codes, enabling farmers to access immediate local mental health resources.
Moreover, the collaboration will facilitate mental health workshops and training sessions. These workshops aim to raise awareness about mental health, tackle prevalent challenges, and equip farmers with effective stress management techniques to enhance their overall mental well-being.
Megz Reynolds, Executive Director of Do More Agriculture, expressed enthusiasm about the potential of this partnership. “We are excited about the possibilities our collaboration with the AGCO Agriculture Foundation holds and the significant impact it will make on farming communities,” she remarked. “The Foundation’s steadfast commitment to supporting mental health initiatives aligns seamlessly with our mission, enabling us to extend our outreach and provide essential resources to even more farmers in need of mental health support.”
This collaboration follows AGCO’s recent announcement of the Foundation’s partnership with Rural Aid to bolster farmers’ mental health and well-being across Australia.
