Farmers said these costs are affecting their way of life.

Upgrading his 1999 truck is pretty low on Richard Williams' priority list.

"Rather than making car payments or truck payments, you just make repair payments and fix up what you have, and buy health insurance," Williams, a farmer, said.

Williams pays more than $500 per month for private health insurance for him and his wife. While Williams said he doesn't want handouts, he said there needs to be a way to receive affordable health care for farmers.

The U.S. Agriculture Department surveryed 257 farmers last year on their health insurance coverage.  The survey said Missouri farm and ranch families pay more than $6,000 per year for health insurance.  This doesn't include other out of pocket medical expenses.

"This report is really really important in terms of getting into the debate around health care," Rhonda Perry of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center said.

Williams said he will continue to cut back, and hope for cheaper health insurance in the future.

The Missouri Rural Crisis Center said this is the first report on health insurance costs for Missouri farmers and ranchers.