Spotlight on the Minnesota Farm Advocates program

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by Meg Moynihan, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

In the face of mounting financial headwinds, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) wants to make sure that corn growers know about the Minnesota Farm Advocates. There are now 12 Farm Advocates throughout the state who offer one-on-one help and advice to farmers who are facing crises caused by financial problems or natural disasters. The services are confidential and provided at no charge.

All of our advocates work part time on contract. Some farm or have farmed. Some are retired Farm Business Management instructors. But all of them have deep personal understanding of farming and agriculture. Many of them have weathered their own crisis, including fires, farm accidents, and bankruptcies. We like to say they are “in your corner” – they work for you and are there to help you get through whatever it is that you’re facing.

Farm Advocates can help with financial planning, lender negotiations, and farm programs. They work with producers to prepare for and attend mediation sessions and help them strategize about bankruptcy and foreclosure. They also help with federal and state farm programs, and referrals for legal, social, and human services.

When should you call a Farm Advocate? As soon as possible – which is also true for opening your mail. Sometimes when you think bad news is coming it can be tempting to stop going to the mailbox, or just jam all your mail, unopened, into a brown paper bag. But the sooner you know what you’re up against, the easier it may be to tackle. Likewise, the sooner you get a Farm Advocate involved, the quicker they can help you get a handle on the problem or challenge you’re facing.

Here are a just a few situations when you might consider calling a Farm Advocate:

• When you get a mediation equipment repossession notice.
• When your open accounts have substantially increased or there’s a major drop in your equity over 12 months.
• When you think you might need a new lender.
• When you are considering bankruptcy.
• If you’re meeting with a lawyer and would like someone to take notes.
• When you’re at risk of getting a foreclosure notice.
• When you need a balance sheet or cash flow.
• When you are entering into or dissolving a partnership.
• When you suffer a devastating loss like a fire, livestock disease, or natural disaster.

The Farm Advocate Program was born out of the 1980s farm crisis and has been supported by the MDA since 1984. Advocates have helped thousands of farmers over the decades. They would like to help you. You can call any of the Farm Advocates on this list, or visit the MDA website to learn more about this program.

You can call any of the Farm Advocates on this list, or visit the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/farmadvocates to learn more about this program.

*Laura speaks Spanish

^Both Laura and Friendly have a special interest in working with emerging/ historically-underserved farmers.

If you are looking for emotional or psychological support or counseling, please call the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline or visit our “Coping with Farm & Rural Stress” page at www.mnfarmstress.com