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Abstract.

University of Maryland Extension (UME), in partnership with the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD), conducted a series of workshops for agricultural service providers and producers across Maryland. The objectives were to provide an overview of why producers and their families may be dealing with unhealthy levels of stress, offer strategies to help identify producers in need of mental health assistance, approaches for producer encounters, and how to assist producers with locating mental health resources. The program used Michigan State University‘s “Communicating with Farmers under Stress” as a foundation to create a customized program for Maryland agricultural service providers and producers. The UME Agriculture and Food Systems and Family and Consumer Science Extension Programs, MASCD, and MidAtlantic Farm Credit conducted the workshops. The presentation will discuss the workshop outcomes and what was learned. The Rural Maryland Council and The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation funded the workshops and presenter training.