Farmers already at higher risk of suicide face pressure from tariffs

After several tough years of prices near or below break even, the economics of the farm sector may soon get worse because of international tariffs.  China, the largest buyer of U.S. soybeans, and Mexico, the largest importer of U.S. pork, are threatening tariffs that would likely choke off demand for those farm products and drop prices further.  Worth said it's another unknown farmers face, and another stressor.  "We got people who are fifth- or sixth-generation farmers who may lose the farm. They are thinking they let their ancestors down," he said. Research shows that people in rural areas are much more likely to take their own lives. And a study of suicide in 17 states found people whose occupation involved farming, fishing or forestry were over five times more likely to take their own lives than people in all occupations combined.