WHY FARMERS CALL THE FARM LINE
Seeking financial help, asking about succession

CHESTERVILLE — The number one reason why farmers call a toll-free farmers help line is because they can’t make their next mortgage payment, says Susan Klein Swormink, a promotions representative for The Farm Line.

The Farm Line at 1-888-451-2903 receives about five calls per day and now in its second year has fielded more than 1,200 telephone calls.

Financial problems are the most important reason for calls, Klein-Swormink said. "They are not able to make payments because commodity prices are down. When they call us its one of their last options."

The Farmline was introduced by the Ontario Farm Women’s Network after the 1998 ice storm and opened for its first phone call in November 2000.

They fielded about 1,000 calls in their first year. "We were very surprised at the number of calls," she said. Here are the top four reasons why farmers call:

1. Financial problems, specifically because the farmer can’t make a mortgage payment. So far this year, financial problems provoked six "serious suicide"callers.

The Farm Line has about 1,500 contacts to send people to. When the problem concerns not meeting a mortgage payment the farmer is referred to the helper of last resort, the Farm Debt Consultation Service (1-866-452-5556), a federal service that charges a $100 fee and sits down with the family to map out its financial trouble.

"They try to solve problems and strengthen communications among family members," she said. "When there is a financial problem in the farm family communications is the first thing to be restored."

Callers also ask about farm succession because a lot of farms are changing hands right now, she said, adding that the average age of the farmer is about 56.

These callers are sent to www.farmsuccession.com and for seminars they are sent to the OMAFRA contact centre at 1-877-424-1300.

Calls about personal problems are typical family problems but on a farm the people involved are working and living together and that makes the problems more complex, she said.

The Farm Line is open five days per week from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. All Ontario calls reach an office in Brockville.