By Wade Shuler, Senior Vice President of Reinsurance and Special Products
Demanding seasons are a reality in agriculture and in the work agents do every day to support producers. Long hours, high volumes and ongoing uncertainty can quietly build stress that affects focus, decision-making and well-being. This week’s Mental Health Month focus explores how recognizing stress earlier and using available tools can help support personal well-being and sustain steady, dependable service during the seasons that demand the most.
Some level of pressure is unavoidable in this industry. The goal is not to eliminate stress, but to recognize it earlier, manage it proactively and use available tools to stay healthy and supported during demanding periods.
Stress often shows up through common warning signs such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, disrupted sleep or routine tasks beginning to feel harder to manage. Noticing these signals early can help prevent stress from building and affecting both work and home life.
As part of Mental Health Month, AgriSompo is covering the cost of two live training opportunities for agents, presented by AgriSafe. These one-hour sessions focus on communication and relationships and offer practical strategies for navigating stress, supporting productive conversations and managing the pressures that often arise when working with farm families.
Agent training sessions:
• May 21, 2026 | 10 a.m. CST
• May 28, 2026 | 1 p.m. CST
To register, click here and login with your AgriNet credentials.
The resources shared this week can be found here, and are designed to be practical and easy to use. They include materials from AgriSafe and Rural Minds, two organizations focused on strengthening mental health awareness and support in agricultural and rural communities.
Together, these resources address common day-to-day stressors, with tools focused on seasonal pressure, financial stress, sleep, physical health and simple practices that support resilience.
Mental Health Month offers an opportunity to pause, reflect and access support, but the message extends beyond a single week or month. Taking care of your well-being is essential to sustaining the work you do for producers and communities over the long term.
At AgriSompo, supporting people also means supporting the people behind the work. Addressing stress early is one practical way to support personal well-being, strong relationships and consistent service during the seasons that demand the most.