>Jane: I saw your posting to SANET questioning what we could do about the
>farm crisis. There have been several announcements (see below) in Keeping Up
>over the last few months about programming begun to address the farm crisis
>in Nebraska. If you want more information you could contact the people
>mentioned below. Bob Wright
>Farm/Ranch Financial Management
>
> We are pleased to announce that we plan to offer a new farm financial
>management assistance program later this year. Larry Bitney has developed a
>grant request to the State Department of Agriculture to help us launch an
>educational program similar to the Managing for Tomorrow program that was
>offered in the 1980s. The State Department of Agriculture and University of
>Nebraska Cooperative Extension will provide funding to expand our financial
>counseling assistance to Nebraska farmers and ranchers.
>
> Unfortunately, the agricultural economic situation in Nebraska has
>deteriorated the last couple of years. Nebraska farm income declined about 25
>percent in 1997 and another 20 percent decline may occur this year. We
>anticipate many farmers and ranchers will be experiencing financial stress as
>they make plans for 1999.
>
> Larry Bitney will provide additional information regarding the educational
>program and how Extension farm management staff, Extension Educators, and
>part-time instructors will support this program. This educational program will
>be available to farmers and ranchers after harvest and through the winter.
>Participants will receive assistance in making financial projections for the
>1999 production year. They will also learn about risk management strategies to
>cope with production and marketing uncertainty.
>
> If you have suggestions regarding this program, please share your
>recommendations with Larry Bitney or Elbert Dickey.
>
>Farm/Ranch Family Economics Task Force
>
>There is growing evidence that agriculture is facing significant economic
>challenges. The situation will impact farm and ranch families, communities and
>agribusiness. Given our perceptions of the economic situation, the Institute
>of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Cooperative Extension have created a
>Farm/Ranch Family Economics Task Force to help identify and implement
>programming needs. Task Force members include:
>
> John Allen
> Larry Bitney
> Gary Bredensteiner
> Richard Clark
> Leslie Crandall
> Roy Frederick
> Doug Jose
> Jim Keeler
> Herb Lingren
> Dan Moser
> Kathy Prochaska-Cue
> Deb Rood
> Stephen Russell
> Roger Selley
>
> Part of our educational response will be the recently announced "Decisions Now
>-- Building Your Future." "Decisions Now" will be conducting an inservice
>educational program on September 23-24. Larry Bitney and Deb Rood are leading
>the program. Also through e-mail and Keeping Up, Herb Lingren has made
>available several pieces of information on stress management.
>
> On Tuesday, September 1, the Task Force reviewed resources and assets
>available for helping farm and ranch families. Also discussed were additional
>programmatic needs and opportunities. The Task Force welcomes your input as we
>continue to monitor the situation and plan for additional educational materials
>and programs that will be delivered this fall.
>
> Elbert Dickey
> Beth Birnstihl
>
>Farm/Ranch Family Economics Task Force
>
>Over the next several weeks, we will bring you regular briefings on a project
>undertaken by a Farm/Ranch Family Economics task force. This task force,
>composed primarily of Extension faculty, was announced in the September 4th
>issue of Keeping Up. This task force has met twice during the last two
weeks to
>monitor farm/ranch family economic developments and to plan strategies for
>potential responses by IANR and Cooperative Extension.
>
>Task-force members have contacted several other entities involved in family or
>financial stress management to ensure a coordinated response. These contacts
>have been positive and have reinforced the need for collaboration and the need
>for a response.
>
>Current task-force discussions have focused on:
>! Listing of family-related resources has been compiled and distributed. The
>task force intends to compile and distribute a list of related financial
>planning and stress management resources.
>
>! Decisions Now has been announced and will have an inservice Sept. 23-24 and
>Nov. 23-24. The agenda for this inservice continues to have some modification
>because of task force suggestions.
>
>! Some of our contacts with the clergy have indicated a potential need for
>briefing on the agricultural financial situation and a review of available
>resources. This may evolve into a satellite/audio discussion in which all
>staff could participate. There is some discussion about the need to have
>additional inservice in each of the Extension districts.
>
>! A media response is planned, including materials distributed directly by CIT
>and materials being developed for use by Extension Educators.
>Again, if you have ideas or suggestions, please contact any of the task force
>members.
>
> Beth Birnstihl
> Elbert Dickey
>
>Educational Material for Troubled Times
>
> Two weeks ago I sent out an announcement in Keeping Up saying that I would
>make available educational materials on stress management and family
>communication. For those that responded, I sent:
>
> "Working With People Under Stress"
> NebFact 93-155 "Rural Families Facing Economic and Emotional Stress"
> "Weather Life's Storms Together"
> "Rain, Drought, Low Prices Produce Stress"
> "Practical Tips to Improve Family Communication"
> "Talk It Out!"
> "Rules For Communication With Intent of Problem-Solving"
>
> Today, I am making another set of educational materials available to you. If
>you wish those, please call or e-mail me. These materials include:
>
> "Dealing With Change and Emotional Overload"
> "Children and Stress"
> "How Teens Cope With Anger"
> "Making Committed Relationships Work During Difficult Times"
> "Is Yours A Partnership Team"
> "Benefits of Laughter"
> "Diffuse Anger For A Healthy Life"
>
> I will be sending these materials to you in a UNL folder. I suggest you put
>the other materials in it as well so they will be in one place. Please copy and
>use any of the materials with clients, other groups and agencies you work with,
>or in educational meetings.
>
> Please let me know how I assist you this fall as you use these materials with
>your audiences.
>
> Herbert G. Lingren
>
>
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