American Farmers Are Killing Themselves in Record Numbers

American Farmers Are Killing Themselves in Record Numbers Recent data from the CDC shows that farmers are dying by suicide at a higher rate than any other occupational group. The suicide rate in the fields of farming, fishing and forestry has risen to 84.5 per 100,000 people. That’s a staggering fives times more than that of the population as a whole. CDC reports that suicides are highest in rural areas, where farmer income has been dropping steadily. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that the average farmer’s income is projected to be 35 percent below its 2013 level. Stress, mental health and patchy access to health care are also factors into the rising numbers.