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The Rural Voice, 1999-01, Page 38Disastrous pork prices, a summer drought that wiped out crops and cost many farmers thousands in new wells that needed to be drilled — it's a lengthy list of stressful reasons why 1998 will go down as a year best forgotten in agriculture. If you're a victim of these factors don't despair but get help early, says one long-time farm advisor. Brian Ireland has been through the bad times of farming himself, so he knows how easy it is to get down and think you are the only one in trouble. He's been involved in counselling people since the farm debt crisis of the mid -1980s -and he recalls talking to one farmer who was sure he was the only one in the neighbourhood with problems. Within weeks several of the neighbours were also seeking help, Ireland recalls. "They were all keeping a stiff upper lip and going broke," he says. "Talk to other producers in similar situations and compare notes," Ireland urges. In mid-December, neither the drought nor the hog price situation had brought a significant number of calls for help from farmers but Ireland wasn't surprised. Farmers try to hold out as long as possible before seeking help. As well, its often in the new year when farmers start doing their books for the year that they realize how hard they've been hit. Don't wait too long to seek help, Ireland urges. "If you see that you're starting to fall behind get help." If people would react sooner they could save more of their equity, he said. The problems in the pork industry seem to be so deep that it may make sense for some people to liquidate their herds and get out while they still have money to get out with, he says. For those who seek help, Queen's Bush over the years has developed a roster of doctors, accountants and other advisers to help out. "I'm quite confident we can handle the calls," Ireland says. The difference between this farm crisis and bad times in the past is that there are so many places to turn for help. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has established a temporary hotline to provide advice and counselling to pork producers on financial and Through this federally administered program farmers who are experiencing financial difficulty can gain the services of a professional financial counsellor to help assess the current situation and to develop a plan for future success. Applicants must pay first $100 of the cost only. Contact 1-800-265-8135 Farm Debt Mediation Services Offers mediation between farmers and their creditors. This free service is private, confidential and an economical alternative to the often costly, public and drawn-out process of resolving insolvency disputes in court. Where this is not successful, the parties still have recourse to the courts. Under the Farm Debt Review Act over 70 per cent of cases were successfully resolved using the mediation approach. 1-800-265-7288 Help in Huron and Perth The Stratford and Clinton OMAFRA offices have put together a list of agencies that can help. Among those providing stress counselling are: Crisis Intervention Centre. The service offers a 24-hour confidential counselling and referral service for residents of Perth and Huron Counties, 365 days a year. Contact numbers are: 1-800-829-7484 Stratford - (274-8000) Goderich - (524-1113) Telecare A 24-hour confidential listening and referral service for residents of Perth and Huron Counties. The service is available 365 days a year and offers referrals to counselling services. 1-800-463-1360 Family Services Perth -Huron Offices in Stratford, Listowel and Clinton offer support and counselling for individuals, couples and families. 1-800-268-0903 Listowel Mental Health Offers individual adult counselling by self referral or physician referral to residents of Offering a helping hand There are plenty of people to turn to in times of trouble 34 THE RURAL VOICE business management and animal care. The hotline service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The toll-free number is 1-888-599- 5584. Other province -wide services available include: Farm Family Advisor Program Provides a confidential peer counselling service for farm families wanting a second opinion on improving their operations, help in preparing projections for lenders, or for those in financial difficulty. The service is free of charge. Contact your local OMAFRA office. Professional Services Assistance Program Provides assistance to the farmer to hire professional advisors when faced with crucial decisions of severe financial stress. Financial management consultants,, account- ants, lawyers and health professionals may be hired to develop production/business plans, negotiate with creditors, assess legal and tax implications of proposed restructuring or creditor settlements or to provide stress counselling to farm operators and their immediate families. Applicants must demonstrate financial difficulty in order to qualify. Contact your local OMAFRA office. Farm Consultation Service