There are several resources available to assist you in managing your farms in these times of rapid change, both from an economic and a personal standpoint. They include hotlines, websites, staff, publications, and programs and services.

Hotlines

• Farm-On (800) 447-1985 Matches beginning and retiring farmers; hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
• Iowa Concern (800) 447-1985 Financial questions, legal issues, family transitions; phones answered all hours, all days. Telecommunications device for deaf persons (TTD) (800) 735-2942
• Teen Line (800) 443-8336 Personal and health-related information; referral; phones are answered all hours, all days
• Porkline (800) 808-7675 Assist Iowans in all aspects of pork production; hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Websites

• Iowa State University Extension [1]
• Farm Economy Issues at http://www.exnet.iastate.edu [2] under Farm economy issues
• Extension calendar [3]

Staff

Field and state staff are available to answer your questions. To locate a specialist in farm management, crop or livestock production, family life, or family resource management, contact your county extension office.

ISU Extension publications

Many publications are available at county extension offices or from the ISU Extension Distribution Center by calling (515) 294-5247. Please call for a catalog or copies of these publications.

The Stress--Taking Charge series (Pm 1660a-i) deals with family stress. Each publication targets different sources of stress and outlines suggestions for managing stress.

• Pm-1660a Stress-Taking Charge: All about Stress [4] [October 1996] 152K
• Pm-1660b Stress-Taking Charge: Managing Stress in Young Families [5] [March 1997] 156K
• Pm-1660c Stress-Taking Charge: Stress for Families with Teens [6] [October 1996] 158K
• Pm-1660d Stress-Taking Charge: Managing Stress in Midlife Families [7] [October 1996] 158K
• Pm-1660e Stress-Taking Charge: Managing Stress in Later Life Families [8] [October 1996] 154K
• Pm-1660f Stress-Taking Charge: Helping Children Manage Stress [9] [November 1996] 154K
• Pm-1660g Stress-Taking Charge: Managing Conflict with Teens [10] [November 1996] 166K
• Pm-1660h Stress-Taking Charge: Using What You Have to Get What You Want [11] [December 1996] 128K
• Pm-1660i Stress-Taking Charge: Coping with Unemployment [12] [March 1997] 125K

Take Charge in Changing Times series deals with issues such as Encouraging a Friend to Seek Professional Help (Pm 1214 [13]), How to Help "When you Don't Know What to Say" (Pm 1273 [14]), and Adjusting the Farm Business to Adverse Price Conditions (FM 1664 [15]).

Programs and services

• Farm Financial Planning [16] is ISU Extension's farm financial analysis program. It consists of one-on-one financial counseling, a computerized analysis of farm business records, and referral to extension programs or outside services.
• Strategic Advantage [17] helps farm families develop the skills necessary to position their business in ways consistent with their personal objectives and the realities of the marketplace. This program is a strategic management program for Iowa farm families.
• The Ag Decision Maker newsletter provides agricultural economics and business information to farm consultants, financial lenders, agriculture instructors, farmers, and others in Iowa.
• Money 2000 program is designed to encourage Iowans to improve their financial well-being by the end of the year 2000 through the development of financial management skills. Participants decide how much they want to save or reduce debt.