FarmNet staff responded to 3,185 requests for assistance on our 1-800 help line. 59 percent of farmer calls were concerning business planning or succession, financial concerns, and forty-one percent of calls were for interpersonal communication or other personal issues. Severe financial stress has resulted in a 15-fold increase in calls related to marriage dissolutions. Moreover, there were over 2,000 direct calls and e-mail requests to program staff. NY FarmNet/NY FarmLink consultants directly worked with 702 farm families on individual cases.
There were 121 case assignments in 2006 concerning farm partnerships, transfers, and new farm business plans. Thirty-one businesses were transferred to the next generation, 19 new partnerships were formed, and 55 business plans are under various stages of completion. Moreover, an innovative project with NYS Department of Mental Health resulted in 10 mental health directors in their respective counties establishing a client referral system with NY FarmNet.

Severe financial crisis in the agricultural economy prompted establishing a toll free helpline for farmers facing either financial, personal, or family crisis. In addition to calling in for assistance, farmers may receive individualized help from a financial and/or a personal/family consultant to develop a plan for improved farm viability. Assisting farmers evaluate options to achieve their goals is an essential component in maintaining profitable farms that can be transferred to the next generation. Agriculture is an essential industry to New York state, and NY FarmNet/NY FarmLink serves all production agriculture sectors. As an industry, agriculture contributes $3.4 billion annually to the state's economy, and directly assisting farmers is an effective means of economic development.

Improving farm viability is accomplished via multiple education and outreach methods. However, our primary response is to work individually with farm families to find solutions that fit their business and personal goals. Training consultants with the latest financial analysis and interpersonal skills is essential in remaining effective while working with farm families. In addition, collaborating on outreach efforts with Cornell Cooperative Extension reaches our target audience in a formal program setting. All farm families who work individually with consultants prepare a plan for the future. At a minimum, farm families identify options for the future and set goals. When more assistance is necessary, some may develop business plans, while others formulate farm transfer plans.

Our efforts in business planning have resulted in $12 million in new capital investment in the NYS economy. Moreover, 26 agriculture related jobs have been created. A streamlined approach for farmers to obtain borrower training credits with the Farm Service Agency has resulted in 20 farmers having improved access to loans. Thirty-one farms remained in production through business transfers to the next generation. Moreover, these farms have plans for expansion by the incoming generation. Five farm families have avoided costly mental health intervention services by accessing county mental health services.

New York State Department of Mental Health

• A. Ed Staehr (Applied Economics and Mgt, CALS)
• Karen Mastronardi (AEM, CALS)
• Racheal Bothwell (AEM, CALS)