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Wisconsin Farm Assistance Center is getting more distress calls

A Wisconsin farmer assistance program is seeing more activity in 2018.

Wisconsin Farm Center Director Director Kathy Schmidt tells Brownfield they have had a spike in calls for help already this year.  “We had 63 more calls than we did the January previous, so it’s an indication of the level of concern I think that’s out there in the community.”

Schmidt says the increased call volume can be directly traced to the low prices farmers are getting for milk and commodities.  “It’s all about the money, you know.  Everyone is trying to find another penny to pinch in order to make it through.  Some are figuring out that maybe that might not be possible.”

And, she tells Brownfield they’re even getting calls from the farm service suppliers who are concerned about their clients.  “They’re looking for how to identify the farmers that I’m working with (that) might be under more stress than normal.  How do I know, you know, if it’s something more serious?  Is it possible that farmer is having a problem with depression or do I have to worry about anything worse than that?”

The Farm Center averages around 200 calls per month, but call volumes are above what they were a year ago.