Farm Rescue accepting applications for spring planting help
Farm Rescue helped six farm families in Illinois last year; this year, the nonprofit organization reminded the farming community that assistance is still available.
Farm Rescue's goal is to assist small family farms and ranches in overcoming obstacles so they can carry on with their business. Farm Rescue helps farm and ranch families that have suffered a serious sickness, accident, or natural disaster with planting, haying, harvesting, hauling commodities, and feeding cattle.
We see that an unanticipated medical condition or disease, together with a natural calamity, are the two largest financial burdens on a family. On a farm, where a family's capacity to grow, harvest, or care for their herd is their only source of income, it is even more evident, Farm Rescue development officer for Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska Terry Johnston told FarmWeek.
With free labor and equipment to complete tasks, Farm Rescue, which has received funding from Illinois Farm Bureau, gives families an opportunity to maintain their way of life.
The nonprofit began servicing Illinois last year, bringing the Prairie State within its current nine-state scope.
Several Illinois households received assistance from Farm Rescue in March 2023 after an EF3 tornado devastated Crawford County. In actuality, a commemoration celebration honoring property Rescue's 1,000th family assisted took place on Brad Pifer's property. To assist in bringing in the winter wheat crop for the Pifer family, Farm Rescue sent tools and volunteers.
Applications for assistance with spring planting are being accepted throughout Farm Rescue's service area. It is urged that any farm family that has suffered a significant illness, injury, or natural tragedy apply at farmrescue.org. We also accept referrals, and if you would like, the referrer can stay anonymous. Volunteers who are interested can also register on the website.
"Farm Rescue is prepared and able to ease burden in the community by doing our part to help farm families through a time of need, even if neighbors are pitching in," Johnston stated.
