March 2026

Photo by Beth Hautala

Minnesota Ag Officials See Uptick In Farmers Seeking Mental Health Support

This can be a particularly difficult time for farmers’ mental health. 

Tracie Rutherford Self is a mental health specialist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She says tax season can be a precursor for stress on the farm.

“Because it’s stressful, and the financial pieces are stressful. We’re looking at tax season, and then we’re looking at operating loans coming up. And we’re still looking at what’s happening from a federal government standpoint, payments people are waiting on. So there are a lot of factors.”

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Photo courtesy of Aspen Institute

Building Regional Strength: A Call to Action

Aspen Institute recently released Building Regional Strength: A Call to Action, where you can explore how regional, place-based strategies are essential to advancing transformational work in rural and Indigenous regions.

Many of the systems that shape rural community and economic development, from funding structures to measurement outputs, were not built for lower-population places and often create barriers to the outcomes they intend to support. Regional strategies help communities move beyond isolated projects by aligning partners, resources, and long-term priorities across geographies.

Read the Report

Unlock Business Growth: Explore Financing Programs from MN DEED



The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) offers a variety of financing programs to support business growth and economic development in the state. Here's an overview of some key programs:

Minnesota Job Creation Fund

Provides financial incentives to new and expanding businesses that meet certain job creation and capital investment targets.

Minnesota Investment Fund

Offers loans to assist companies with expansion and new location projects, focusing on industrial, manufacturing, and technology-related industries.

Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program

Supports the growth of businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities by offering loans for start-up and expansion costs.

Angel Loan Fund

Provides funding to early-stage businesses that have received angel investment, aiming to support high-tech startups and entrepreneurs.

State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)

Offers various programs to increase access to capital for small businesses, including loan guarantees and venture capital investments.

Business Education Through SCORE

The wealth of content available when starting or growing a business can be overwhelming, especially as you deal with so many areas of development, from finance to marketing to legal and business formation issues. Here are some excellent resources to help alleviate the overwhelm.

• March 5 | Capitalizing on Major Events: How to Choose and Plan Strategically

• March 10 | Manage Your Finances With Confidence Using Scaleable Accounting Systems

• March 17 | Advanced Negotiation Strategy to Protect Profit and Close Stronger Deals

• March 19 | Launch a Profitable Newsletter for Your Small Business

• March 24 | How to Start and Run a Franchise Business That Works For You