‘Opioids: Rural America Live’ Explores a Devastating Epidemic

“Opioids: Rural America Live,” a special RFD-TV live broadcast that aired on Monday, focused on the opioid crisis in rural America that is devastating farm and ranch families. AFBF President Zippy Duvall, National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson and USDA Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett appeared on the program to discuss new research on how opioid addiction is affecting rural America. Duvall and Johnson described “Farm Town Strong,” a joint AFBF-NFU campaign that is raising awareness of the crisis’ impact on farming communities, providing information and encouraging farmer-to-farmer support to overcome the crisis. Hazlett outlined her work in this area and how USDA is partnering with local communities to help combat the epidemic.