Some farmers calling the hotline had previously called in when the hotline was established during the farm crisis of the 1980's. Wilson refers callers to staff of the Farm Resource Center and to U of I Extension educators who are trained in farm management, family life and consumer economics. This past winter, meetings were held in 45 communities statewide to help local leaders understand what farm families are facing. Brochures on local resources that were developed for farm families are available in many local Extension offices as a result of community efforts responding to the farm crisis. Now that planting season is here, farmers are hoping to find the money for operation costs and are anxiously watching the weather reports for signs of a good year, according to Ruth Hambleton, UI Extension educator, farm business and farm management.
Lenders are now more conservative in providing loans to producers.
If any small discrepancies appear in the loan application, it will be turned down. Hambleton predicts there will be many farm sales this spring, particularly in the southern and western parts of Illinois where there are variable soil types and rough terrain. When a farmer is facing bankruptcy or foreclosure, the numbers speak very clearly. Yet there is more than the numbers to consider. Hambleton has responded to 25 calls from her Mt. Vernon office since the hotline was established in January.