| New York FarmNet, a state supported, toll-free, phone help-line for farmers began in March 1986 in response to the farm financial crisis. Its purpose included providing information/refelTal, individualized business/financial analysis and a general safety net for farm families, From March 1986 through March 1991 FmmNet received 3853 calls and assigned 534 consultants to work one-to-onc with fm'm families experiencing severe problems. A summm'y of caller characteristics revealed that slightly over half of callers were males, and nearly all were owners or operators rather than farm workers. Each year caller fmm size averaged between 230 and 320 acres, but the range was from one acre to over 4000 acres. Years of fm'ming experience each year averaged 16 to 23... |
