January 21, 2026
Governments of Canada and Manitoba Invest in Mental Health and Wellness for Agriculture Producers
The governments of Canada and Manitoba are renewing their financial support for the mental health and wellness of Manitoba’s agricultural community with a two-year, $300,000 extension to the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program (MFWP) through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.
“Farmers and their families face many unique challenges that can take a real toll on mental health,” said MacDonald. “By extending support for the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, we’re ensuring that producers have access to confidential, farm-focused counselling when they need it most. This investment is about strengthening resilience and helping our agricultural community thrive in an increasingly complex environment.”
The program is designed specifically for the agriculture community and provides counselling services delivered by professionals with agricultural literacy. Its counsellors understand the unique stressors farmers, farm families and agricultural employees face, including extreme weather events, market volatility, rising input costs, labour challenges and the demands of running multigenerational family operations, while providing targeted supports to address those stressors.
“The MFWP has proven its value through measurable outcomes, helping reduce stress, prevent burnout, and provide tools and support for producers to manage the demands of modern agriculture,” said Kostyshyn. “This continued funding will allow the program to expand services, maintain timely access to counselling and support those in underserved areas such as farm employees and agricultural service providers.”
The MFWP was created in response to the increasingly complex challenges farmers face, according to the program’s chief administrative officer, Gerry Friesen.
Built on principles of accessibility, confidentiality and agricultural literacy, the program provides timely, no-cost counselling tailored to farmers, their families and farm employees. It reduces barriers to support by offering flexible, farmer-centred care, helping participants manage financial pressures, family conflicts, operational stress or personal well-being challenges.
“This investment recognizes something farmers have been telling us for years: caring for producers means supporting both their operations and their well‑being,” said Friesen. “Ensuring timely, confidential access to mental health services is essential to helping farmers, farm families and agricultural workers stay resilient through the pressures and uncertainties of modern agriculture. This continued partnership strengthens our ability to be there for the people who feed our province and our country.”
Since its launch in 2022, MFWP has steadily expanded. Participation and counselling sessions have increased, reflecting growing awareness and trust within the farming community. The program continues to promote mental wellness and coping strategies through workshops, presentations and multimedia resources, reaching farmers, farm families and agricultural workers across Manitoba.
The two-year extension will provide $150,000 per year for 2026-27 and 2027-28, enabling MFWP to sustain and expand professional counselling services.
The Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada’s agriculture sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities, and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared with provincial and territorial governments (60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially-territorially) for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
For more information about MFWP, visit https://manitobafarmerwellness.ca.
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