Mental health issues remain a strain on American farmers, including those in Delaware.
Nearly half of rural adults in the U.S. say they’re experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago, according to a study by Morning Consult and the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Stats on farmer mental health and suicide are largely based on white, middle-aged male farmers in the Midwest, said Scott Marlow, a senior advisor in the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.
Marlow joined a panel at this week’s BIPOC Farmers Conference at Delaware State University, which is the first of its kind on DSU’s campus. The conference is a collaboration between the First State African American Farmers’ Association, Delaware State University College of Agriculture, Science and Technology and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
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Marlow said the drive toward efficiency in agriculture has been detrimental to people of color in the industry.
“There’s not a question… The tools that created the ability to industrialize large-scale, the move towards uniformity, all those things of industrialization were… systematically denied to farmers of color.”
Marlow said conditions in the chicken industry are especially brutal.
Broiler or chicken production accounts for over 75% of Delaware’s agricultural production value, according to the USDA.
Marlow said most of the suicide cases he’s worked were chicken farmers. Risk factors for mental health issues and suicide among farmers include financial distress, pesticide exposure and racism.
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“Moves towards efficiency by nature drive people out of farming. Period. Land is a zero sum game. If I get bigger, you get smaller. Period.”
At the same time, Marlow said the FSA changed its focus to keep farmers farming rather than focusing on efficiency.
There used to be an average of 100 to 125 farm foreclosures annually. Now, FSA has foreclosed on 12 farms in the last four years – and none of those farms were owned by Black farmers.
Marlow is trying to turn the conversation in the agriculture world away from things like pamphlets and asking farmers how they’re doing.
“Farmer death is a function of the system as it now stands. And unless we address that system, and unless we address the drivers of that system, we will be ineffectual at the other pieces.”
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Democrats in Delaware are seeking answers and preparing for President-elect Donald Trump to take office for another four years. Meanwhile, Republicans are hopeful the former president will enact the promises he made during his campaign.
Emotions ranged from joy to shock at Return Day, held just days after last week’s election. It’s a centuries-old First State tradition where every election cycle, candidates and Delawareans of all political affiliations come together to bury an actual hatchet to show there are no hard feelings — even after a divisive election.
Sussex County Republican Committee Vice Chair Tom Molnar had a booth set on the fairgrounds last week, with a cardboard copy of Trump people took pictures with and a large red hat with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan on it.
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Sussex County Republican Committee Vice Chair Tom Molnar’s booth at Return Day just after the election featuring a life-sized Donald Trump cardboard cutout. (Sarah Mueller/WHYY)
“This is the best week that we’ve had in a long time,” Molnar said. “Trump won, and we had a lot of Republicans win the election.”
Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris lost the popular vote and the Electoral College to Trump. Republicans gained control of the U.S. Senate; the House is still undecided to date, but Republicans are inching towards victory there as well.
Former Rep. Debbie Harrington, who unsuccessfully sought the lieutenant governor position in the Democratic primary earlier this year, said she thinks some people were uncomfortable electing a Black woman as president.
“When you talk about the differences in the two of them, it just didn’t cross my mind that he had the ability to win,” she said. “I just didn’t believe that.”
Millville resident Sherrena Williams said she’s worried the rights of Black people will erode under the next Trump administration.
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“I personally grew up during segregation, and I’m starting to have flashbacks,” Williams said. “When we look at the television and he gave his [acceptance] speech, nobody looked like us on that stage.”
Democrats Sherrena Williams and former Rep. Debbie Harrington at Return Day just a couple days after the November election, where political parties bury an actual hatchet after each election cycle. (Sarah Mueller/WHYY)
While Harris carried Delaware, turnout and Trump’s ability to broaden his appeal contributed to his overall win.
Delaware’s turnout was down from 68% four years ago, when President Joe Biden was running to 65% this year, state Department of Elections data shows. That’s similar to results nationally, where overall turnout was 65%, two points lower than in 2020.
Trump also increased his share of votes in the First State this election cycle, garnering 214,184 in 2024 compared with 200,184 in 2020.
Former Rep. Ruth Briggs King, a Republican who lost a bid for lieutenant governor against Democrat Kyle Evans Gay, said she saw more Black and Latino voters support her than in prior races.
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“They like direct speech, not a lot of legalese, not a lot of political jargon,” she said. “They want that real and sincere conversation. And I think that must have resonated with them.”
Williams said the Democratic Party is not doing enough to represent the Black community.
Trump gained support from more Black voters, particularly men, this year than in 2020, according to data from AP VoteCast.
“The Democratic Party has to step up and be more proactive in supporting Black people,” Williams said. “They like us, but they’re not putting forth policy to show that. So that’s very important, and I think that is why Black men voted for the Republican Party. They see the Democratic Party as being friendly towards us as a people, but not friendly towards us with their policies.”
Delaware voters elected Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Tom Carper, making her the state’s first woman and Black candidate elected to that chamber.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — ‘Tis the season for lower gas prices.
“I appreciate these gas prices going down. I don’t know what happened lately but you know I’m digging it,” said Kylief Hannah of Camden.
Nationally and in the Philadelphia region, they’re going down.
According to AAA, Philadelphia’s average for a gallon of unleaded regular is $3.11, which is down 8 cents in a month.
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South Jersey’s average is now $2.85, down 8 cents.
And Delaware’s average is $2.92, down 24 cents.
The national average is $3.07, down 13 cents from a month ago.
Experts from AAA say this is the time of year when we usually see a dip.
“We see the summer driving season come to an end. We see demand taper off and this year we’re seeing the price of crude oil go down,” said Jana Tidwell of AAA Mid-Atlantic.
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On Tuesday, in Camden County, prices ranged from $2.67 to $2.99.
“Certain places you get $2.67, $2.68,” said Don Nelson, who owns a plumbing business.
His gas expenses for his trucks are like paying another employee, he says.
“I spend $55,000 a year on gasoline,” said Nelson.
Drivers in South Jersey say every little bit helps.
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“Prices are going down for the better. So yes I am saving money,” said Gabriel Rosa of Camden.
Experts expect the trend to continue, barring any hurricanes that may interfere with refinery production, and there are typically little spikes as we near the holiday travel season.
Before we know it many people will be hitting the road for Thanksgiving and filling up.
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