FARM RESCUE BEGINS
By Marvin Baker, Farm Rescue, a charitable organization designed last year to help farmers in need, started with nothing more than an idea. Now, Farm Rescue is preparing to plant its first crop this spring, according to the company's founder. Bill Gross said he is reasonably confident that 10,000 acres of cropland across Gross said because of the manner in which the charity is established, each farm that is chosen will be limited to having 1,000 acres seeded. We spent 2005 going to farm shows and letting the media know, Gross said. Now we're here and we're prepared to do operations this spring. And for the first year, helping 10 is actually pretty good. Gross, who is an airline pilot for United Parcel Service, said the idea of helping farmers in need was started in the cockpit when several pilots began talking about what they will do when they retire. Although Gross is only 39 years old, he said he passed his idea on to some friends and family, and the next thing he knew, he was receiving donations of money and equipment to get the non-profit agency going. Gross said the idea started out jokingly with him driving randomly around According to Gross, a board of directors sits down and reviews applications of producers who want their crops seeded. Together the team decides who is most in need, thus the input assistance. Gross, who grew up on the family farm in The board is made up of a North Dakota State University Extension specialist and Farm Service Agency specialist in The board decides who gets help, he said. They work with farmers on a daily basis and the farmer has to have a viable operation. Gross said the board has the knowledge and resources to make the right decisions, while his duty is more to raise awareness, funding and finally to get the crop in the ground. Applications are confidential and reviewed by people who would see that information anyway, Gross said. We won't help farmers in financial trouble due to mismanagement. Numerous sponsors have already signed on, and the way Gross described it, solicitation for the cause hasn't been an issue. As an example, RDO Equipment Co. is loaning the tillage equipment to seed the crop, Newman Signs is sponsoring billboards on Interstate 94 and Hall's GMC has loaned a pickup truck with advertising. Farm Rescue also accepts private donations on several levels. He said all the labor is voluntary and he is working with several oil companies in an effort to have fuel donated. Gross added the producer is responsible for the seed and fertilizer. There is no payroll, he said. I want to make it clear that the money for this operation is a necessity for the farmers. Farm Rescue has other things in the works as well. Gross said he is really working hard to obtain biodiesel as a fuel source, not only as a way of giving something back to the family farm, but also to protect the environment. Farm Rescue is also in the process of setting up an internship where students can gain experience related to agriculture, because as he put it, young people are becoming too detached from the family farm. In addition, Gross said numerous people have asked him about bringing a Farm Rescue concert to Actually, were trying to get some country stars to perform in Gross said the application period started Jan. 1 and closes March 15. Those applications will receive priority consideration for assistance. Beyond that, he isn't sure. There are two ways to contact Farm Rescue. The first is through the Internet at (www.farmrescue.org); the application may be found on the Web site as well. The telephone number is 526-0947. We'll do as many acres as we can, Gross said. Farm Rescue is based in Reprinted with permission of Marvin Baker, Minot Daily News. January 30, 2006