Farm Safety Week: Health and Social Issues Facing Farm Families

Theresa Long and Theresa Pittman joined us on behalf of the AgriSafe Network to discuss the health and social issues impacting families in agriculture.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Keeping the farm in the family is a top priority for many agricultural operations, but achieving that goal requires a strong focus on family health and resilience. With National Farm Safety and Health Week underway, experts are spotlighting the unique challenges farm families face.

Theresa Long and Theresa Pittman from the AgriSafe Network joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to discuss the health and social issues affecting families in agriculture.

In an interview with RFD-TV News, Long and Pittman outlined the most pressing health and social concerns facing farm families, including farm stress, mental health issues, and physical well-being. They also shared how primary care providers can better support agricultural families and offered practical steps farm families themselves can take to address these challenges.

The pair emphasized that safeguarding health and resilience is just as crucial as preserving land and livestock when it comes to ensuring the farm remains in the family for future generations.

Farm families can visit the AgriSafe Network for additional resources.

Related Stories
Henning Strauss, CEO of STRAUSS, joins us to share his company’s commitment to crafting tools that farmers wear.
Dr. Sally DeNotta with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) provides horse owners with guidance on the recent outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV).
Kip Eideberg with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers details its campaign spotlighting the people who build equipment vital to farming and food manufacturing.
Buzzard discusses her upcoming appearance on the Dirt Diaries podcast with host Kirbe Schnoor and the importance of sharing authentic stories about agriculture.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined us to break down what telehealth entails and which conditions can be managed through remote appointments.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

From meatpacking settlements to landmark NEPA rulings, Roger McEowen outlines the top legal developments in 2025 that will shape agriculture in the years ahead.
Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation joined us to review new policies and regulations supporting the dairy industry and what they mean for the year ahead.
Despite rising costs and growing food insecurity, meat demand remained strong in 2025 as higher-income consumers offset cutbacks elsewhere. Economists break down the K-shaped economy, upcoming USDA cattle reports, livestock production outlooks, and renewed debate over beef imports and country-of-origin labeling heading into 2026.
Corn growers are turning to ethanol, E15 expansion, and export markets to help absorb record supplies and stabilize prices. Farm leaders discuss low-carbon ethanol demand, flex-fuel vehicle challenges, input costs, and the role of USMCA as producers look for market relief in the year ahead.
From rising trade tensions in Europe to a pending Supreme Court decision on tariffs and shifting demand from China, global trade policy spearheaded by President Donald Trump continues to shape the outlook for U.S. agriculture—adding uncertainty as farmers navigate another volatile year.
The Surface Transportation Board rejects the proposed Norfolk Southern–Union Pacific merger, prompting concerns from agricultural shippers about rail consolidation, service reliability, and higher transportation costs.