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Situation
Rapidly changing conditions are having profound effects on Washington’s
farmers. Evolving world markets, U.S. fiscal policy, overproduction,
and the recent collapse of the Asian economy are some of the factors
that are forcing farm families to deal with unprecedented challenges.
Farming has increasingly become a business and less of a way of life.
Old management strategies are no longer working. Stress levels have
risen dramatically. Farm families often feel paralyzed by the anxiety
they feel. In many cases, their best option may be to leave the farm,
but they are not emotionally prepared to make that decision.
OVERVIEW
The Farm Family Support Network is focused on helping
those farm families that are experiencing financial stress understand
their
situation and then develop realistic survival strategies or an
exit plan that will preserve as much of their equity as possible.
In the beginning consulting activity was centered on apple producing
families located in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties. The
service has now been extended to dairy producers, dry land farmers,
and other small farm entities throughout the State of Washington.
BACKGROUND
In the summer of 2002, the Washington State University
Extension Western Center for Risk Management Education received
a $100,000 grant from the USDA Risk Management Agency to provide
confidential consulting services for apple families in Chelan,
Douglas, and Okanogan counties. The project team consists of
WSU Extention faculty from Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan Counties plus
Western Center Director, Jon Newkirk and WSDA Risk Management
Specialist, Dennis Fiess. Ray Faini is Project Team Leader. The
program is based in the Chelan County Extension office,
which will also provide support services. A Coordinator
was hired in December 2002 and eight Family Consultants began
training February 20, 2003. A professionally produced video was
created to promote the program and has been shown to over 2,000
fruit growers thus far. Additional information has been published
in various publications throughout the state of Washington.
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT
Prior to applying for funding for the program, Western Center staff
conducted an extensive outreach effort to determine the need for
the proposed services. The following organizations have either
offered to help, or have otherwise expressed strong support for
the program. Growers Clearing House, Washington Horticulture Association,
Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission, Washington Apple
Commission, Wenatchee Valley College, Washington State Department
of Agriculture, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Spokane, Washington
State Grange, Washington State Farm Bureau, Washington Dairy Commission,
Washington Hop Commission, Washington Ag & Forestry Leadership
Foundation.
PROGRAM OF WORK
The program is presently based in the Chelan County
Extension office. The consultants that have been trained are available
to provide one on one, confidential, financial consultations to
farm families. A toll free number has been created (1-800-469-2981)
to allow farm families to confidentially contact the program office
to request consulting services. A consultant will then be assigned
to that family. The consultant will visit the farm home and work
through the farm records with the farm family to help them understand
what their situation really is and what their options are. The
consultant will then lead the family through a process to help
them make the decisions that will assist the farm family to achieve
their goals. If they choose to stay on the farm, the consultant
will introduce the families to resources that will help them develop
the appropriate strategies that will allow them to accomplish that
goal. If their choice is to leave the farm, the consultant will
help them develop an exit strategy that will allow them to keep
their family intact and preserve as much equity as possible.
There have been strong indications of need from other apple growing
regions of the State. In addition, the Washington Dairy Products
Commission has become a strong supporter of the program. Farm families
in virtually every commodity group within our state are dealing
with extremely stressful times.
The program has been designed to enable expansion to provide statewide
services to all commodity groups with the state. This statewide
expansion has now taken place with consultants being assigned to
all parts of the entire state of Washington.
WSU PLANNING TEAM
Jon Newkirk, Spokane
Ray Faini, Wenatchee
Ann Diede, Wenatchee
Margaret Viebrock, Waterville
Jay Jenkins, Okanogan
Tim Smith, Wenatchee
Dennis Fiess, Spokane
Peter V. Rodionoff, Wenatchee |
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