As part of its program, the Iowa Cooperative 

 Extension Service has developed a computer software 

 package called ASSIST, which is used to help Iowa 

 farmers analyze options for servicing debt, establishing 

 cash flow, and working with financial lenders. In 

 addition, the Cooperative Extension Service is involved 

 in training people to work with financially distressed 

 farmers. 



A recently enacted state law requires the 

 Cooperative Extension Service to accelerate the 

 development of computer software and field staff 

 training to increase the ability of the Extension 

 Service to provide financial management counseling 

 services.^ 



Kansas 



The Kansas FACTS (Farmers Assistance, Counseling, 

 and Training Service) Program is available to directly 

 assist farmers, ranchers, and agribusinessmen in 

 avoiding the problems and distress resulting from poor 

 economic conditions in agriculture. 



Established by the 1985 Kansas State Legislature, 

 the FACTS Program operates with a budget of $300,000 and 

 provides to eligible persons assistance including farm 

 management, financial planning, business planning, and 

 other support counseling. The program also provides 

 referrals for services." 



The FACTS Program is a jointly sponsored program of 

 the Kansas Cooperative Extension Service and the Kansas 

 State Board of Agriculture. For purposes of providing 

 assistance to financially distressed persons, Kansas 



16 



