Farm Rescue Expands Free Help to Missouri Families

When a farm family faces a health crisis or financial hardship, there's often no one to step in and keep the operation running. Farm Rescue just changed that for Missouri farmers.

The nonprofit program matches struggling farm families with volunteers and modern equipment to handle essential work like planting, haying, harvesting, and feeding livestock. Every bit of help comes at no cost to families who qualify.

Missouri becomes the ninth state where Farm Rescue operates, joining Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Harvest assistance kicks off this fall in Missouri, with other services rolling out soon after.

The expansion happened thanks to support from major donors including John Deere, Anheuser-Busch, and Nutrient Ag Solutions. These partnerships provide the equipment and resources volunteers need to make a real difference on working farms.

Founded in 2005, Farm Rescue has now assisted more than 1,250 farm and ranch families stay afloat when circumstances threatened to sink them. The model is simple: families submit applications describing their needs, and if approved, the organization coordinates volunteer support and equipment delivery.

The Ripple Effect

When one farm survives a crisis, entire rural communities benefit. Family farms anchor local economies, supplying food and jobs while preserving agricultural traditions passed down through generations.

Farm Rescue doesn't just save individual operations. By keeping families on their land during medical emergencies, injuries, or financial setbacks, the program protects the broader fabric of rural America.

Applications are now open for Missouri farmers who need assistance. The help can mean the difference between losing everything and making it through another season with hope intact.