bookkeeping, lending practices, and other areas. 

 Counselors also refer clients who need legal or mental 

 health services to appropriate agencies. The counselors 

 may help to negotiate with lenders. 



Ninety percent of the counselors employed in the 

 program have college degrees and are farmers. Some have 

 agricultural lending experience. The state conducts 

 three or four training sessions a year for counselors on 

 topics such as tax policies, negotiation techniques, and 

 mental health. 



The farm credit counseling program is funded by an 

 appropriation of $460,000 in general fund money. The 

 cost of the program as of October 21, 1985, was $251 per 

 farmer aided. Spending for the entire program has 

 averaged $10,420.73 a month. 



In 1985, the North Dakota Legislature also 

 established the Credit Review Board, which provides 

 mediation between a lender and a farmer who is in danger 

 of immediate foreclosure or who is in the period of 

 redemption. If mediation fails, the board may approve 

 the purchase, refinancing, or redemption of the farmer's 

 home-quarter.^ 



South Dakota 



South Dakota has a variety of services to offer 

 financially troubled farmers under its Rural Renaissance 

 Program. The program is focused toward assisting two 

 groups: (1) individuals and families who are being 

 forced out of agriculture because of economic 

 conditions; and (2) farmers and ranchers who can stay in 

 business with supplemental off-farm income. 



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