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Sociology of Agriculture and Food (SAFRIG)

An Examination of Financial Supports of Unpaid Caregiving in North Carolina Agriculture McKayla Robinette*, McKayla Robinette, Jessica Wilburn, Maggie Denning,

Unpaid caregiving represents a significant, often invisible, form of labor within household economies. As the population of farmers and farmworkers continues to age and experiences disproportionately high rates of chronic illness, injuries, and disabilities, rural families are increasingly required to absorb caregiving responsibilities without access to formal supports more readily available for urban caregivers. In 2024, the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, as part of its Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network of North Carolina, established the Farm Family Caregiving Mini-Grant to partially offset income loss and increased household expenses associated with unpaid caregiving responsibilities among farmers, farmworkers, and farm families. Analysis of program records and conversations with agricultural communities indicates that while the program is valued, the limited availability of funding and the one-time nature of awards limit the program’s ability to provide sustained financial support for the long-term caregiving needs of agricultural families in North Carolina. Many caregiving mini-grant recipients also engaged with complementary supports offered through the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, such as reimbursement for automated external defibrillators, a legal and financial planning assistance mini-grant, and a mental health counseling voucher program, which share similar limitations. Despite these constraints, the program’s strengths include rapid deployment of funds and recognition of caregiving as a labor loss within agricultural operations. Together, these programs function as a multi-layered support strategy that aligns with sociological research emphasizing the importance of practical, contextually relevant interventions that address stress and well-being in agricultural communities.