Coping with stress or crisis

Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline Free, confidential, available 24/7. This call center is located in Minnesota. Calls are answered by trained staff and volunteers. If you or someone you know is struggling with stress, anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts — call. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone you don’t know. 833-600-2670 x 1

Mental Health and Family Services Line Farm Aid works with farm advocates, counselors and hotline operators that can help you in your time of need. 1-800-FARM-AID

Ted Matthews, rural mental health counselor Ted Matthews works with farmers across the entire state. No cost; no paperwork. This service is available thanks to funds from the Minnesota State Legislature. 320-266-2390

Mental Health Minnesota Search by county or zip code to quickly find local mental health crisis response. If you prefer, you can reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “MN” to 741741.

Financial counseling

Financial counseling from U of M Extension If you or a farmer you know is experiencing financial stress, contact the Farm Information Line at 1-800-232-9077 to set up a financial counseling session.

RURAL STRESS TASK FORCE

Farm resources for difficult timesFind help, counseling, advocacy, legal and referral resources in Minnesota.

Financial counseling is free and completely confidential. A team of Extension farm financial analysts has been assembled to provide free, one-on-one financial counseling to farmers who are experiencing financial stress. These analysts will help participating farmers understand their financial situation, explore options and seek to identify alternatives to help alleviate the financial stress caused by the current agricultural climate.

Minnesota Farm Advocates — “Farmers Helping Farmers”Farm Advocates provide one-to-one assistance for Minnesota farmers who face crisis caused by either a natural disaster or financial problems. Farm Advocates understand the needs of agricultural families and communities. They are trained and experienced in agricultural lending practices, mediation, lender negotiation, farm programs, crisis counseling and disaster programs, and to recognize needs for legal and/or social services. There is no charge or fee for Farm Advocate assistance. Hotline: 1-800-967-AGRI (2474).

Legal Assistance

The Minnesota Family Farm Law ProjectMFFLP is a program that provides legal assistance to financially distressed family farmers in Minnesota in conjunction with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) offices. Services are free or provided at reduced cost to eligible farmers. In general, priority is given to cases to prevent foreclosure on family farm homesteads and repossession of farm machinery, equipment, livestock, crops and real estate that are necessary to the farm operation. In addition, priority is given to cases to secure the release of income from farm production and/or obtain the extension of credit for family living and farm operating expenses. Toll free information and referral line: 1-800-233-4534.

Farmers’ Legal Action Group, Inc. FLAG is a nonprofit law center dedicated to providing legal services to family farmers and their rural communities in order to help keep family farmers on the land. 1-877-860-4349

Related Assistance

Farmer-Lender Mediation This Extension program has provided mediation services to more than 24,000 cases since 1986. If you have questions or would like more information, contact: Mary Nell Preisler, director, Farmer Lender Mediation at preis002@umn.edu, 218-935-5785

Contact

Emily R. Wilmes Director, Rural Stress Task Force University of Minnesota Extension 3333 West Division St. Suite 10 Saint Cloud, MN 56301 krek0033@umn.edu 320-255-6169 ext. 3 Farm Information Line: 1-800-232-9077