When disaster strikes, the agriculture community pulls together. 

Since 2005, Farm Rescue has been a saving grace for farm families experiencing major injury, illness or natural disaster by providing free planting, haying, harvesting, commodity hauling and livestock feeding assistance. 

Now, Wisconsin farmers are eligible to apply for Farm Rescue services. 

“Wisconsin farmers – soybean growers included – are fortunate to now have access to Farm Rescue’s assistance when life throws a curveball their way,” Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board President Patrick Mullooly said.   

Farm Rescue operations in Wisconsin began July 1 with harvest assistance; planting, haying, commodity hauling and livestock feeding assistance will be available starting in 2025. Relying on donations, business sponsors and volunteers, the expansion into the Badger State was made possible thanks to generous supporters, including John Deere, Anheuser-Busch (through its brand Busch Light) and Nutrien Ag Solutions. 

“Farm Rescue is very thankful for the unwavering support from our family of supporters in helping us grow our service area,” said Bill Gross, Founder & President, Farm Rescue. “We look forward to extending a helping hand to farm families in crisis within the state of Wisconsin.” 

The organization has also received equipment support for its Wisconsin operations through John Deere at both the corporate and local dealer levels. The company is helping to coordinate the delivery of a combine for 2024 harvest assistance efforts in Wisconsin and the surrounding region, as well as supplying tech support and service for Farm Rescue’s initial launch of operations in the state. 

Farm Rescue was founded by North Dakota native Bill Gross, who wasn’t able to return to his family farm and went on to become a Boeing 747 captain for UPS. To date, Farm Rescue has assisted more than 1,000 farm and ranch families. With the addition of Wisconsin, the organization serves farm and ranch families in nine states – Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. 

“The premise of Farm Rescue is based on neighbors helping neighbors,” said Terry Johnston, development officer for Farm Rescue. “We support farm families in any way we can to get them through whatever rough patch they’re facing.”  

For more information about Farm Rescue’s mission, to learn how you can support the organization or to fill out an assistance application for yourself or someone you know, please visit https://farmrescue.org/.  

“We ask for and appreciate the support of the folks in Wisconsin,” Johnston said. “We want to keep farm families earning their living through a tough period. So, supporting Farm Rescue any way you can helps make sure that we keep those farm families going and help the next generation have access to that legacy.”