Farm Rescue announced it is adding Wisconsin to the growing list of states where it provides assistance for farmers in need.
Headquartered in Horace, North Dakota, Farm Rescue is a nonprofit organization that provides free planting, haying, harvesting, commodity hauling and livestock feeding assistance to farm families experiencing a major illness, injury or natural disaster.
Operations in Wisconsin will begin with harvest assistance as of July 1. That will be followed in 2025 with the addition of planting, haying, commodity hauling and livestock feeding support. These services will be available to eligible farm families across Wisconsin.
“Farm Rescue is very thankful for the unwavering support from our family of supporters in helping us grow our service area,” Farm Rescue Founder and President Bill Gross said in a news release. “We look forward to extending a helping hand to farm families in crisis within the state of Wisconsin.”
The expansion was made possible by donations from several major donors and business sponsors. They include John Deere, Anheuser-Busch through its brand Busch Light, and Nutrien Ag Solutions.
Deere provides support
Farm Rescue also received equipment support to expand into Wisconsin from John Deere at both the corporate and local dealer levels. The Moline-based Deere is helping coordinate delivery of a John Deere combine for 2024 harvest assistance efforts in Wisconsin and the surrounding region. The company also is supplying technical support and service for Farm Rescue’s initial launch in Wisconsin.
The addition of Wisconsin brings Farm Rescue’s service area to nine states. Farm Rescue and its volunteer workforce will now serve farmers in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Any farm family experiencing a major injury, illness or natural disaster is encouraged to apply for assistance at farmrescue.org. Or call (701) 252-2017. Referrals also are welcome.
Founded in 2005, Farm Rescue recently announced that Quad Citian Nate Clark, the former John Deere Foundation president, has been hired as its new executive director.
The nonprofit has helped more than 1,100 farm families since its inception nearly 20 years ago. Its mission is to help farmers and ranchers who have experienced a major crisis by providing the necessary equipment and volunteer labor to perform time-sensitive services on the farm.
