The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is awarded $500,000 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to help address farmer mental health and stress. In 2019, VDACS created the Farmer Stress Task Force which worked to ensure that Virginia’s farmers understand the importance of caring for their mental health, while also providing the necessary tools and support to handle mental health issues and other crises that may occur, and help reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.