Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 21, 1993 TAG: 9304210263
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By STEVEN P. ROSENFELD ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: DES MOINES, IOWA LENGTH: Medium
The farm economy no longer is on its knees, as it was in 1985 when Farm Aid was born. Yet an estimated one in 10 farmers remains overwhelmed by debt and times are getting tougher for many others. Some economists believe the farm recovery peaked in 1989.
"The proportion of farmers in a crisis situation is less today than in 1985, but it's still a problem," said Don Ralston, administrator of the Center for Rural Affairs in Walthill, Neb. "The more public awareness of this, the better."
Among the dozens of performers lined up with Nelson to get that point across are Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp. Hosts include Roseanne and Tom Arnold, Yakov Smirnoff, Lou Diamond Phillips and Williams & Ree.
Farm Aid VI begins at noon Saturday at the 50,000-seat Cyclone Stadium at Iowa State University. The 2,000 choice reserved seats have already sold out at $46 each.
Concertgoers also were asked to bring canned goods and other nonperishables that will be donated to Feed the Children.
Music won't be the only medium for the save-the-farm message.
On the eve of the concert, a congressional subcommittee will convene in Ames at Nelson's invitation to hear suggestions on how the U.S. Department of Agriculture can respond better to family farmers' needs.
Farm Aid is roundly applauded for the attention it brings to rural issues and the more than $14 million it has raised through concerts in 1985, '86, '87, '90 and '92, as well as TV programs and donations.
"Without [Farm Aid dollars] it would have been impossible - not only for us but for others - to provide support," said Ralph Paige, executive director of the Atlanta-based Federation of Southern Cooperatives and Land Assistance Fund.
Farm Aid also helped support the Oklahoma Ag-Link Farm Crisis Hotline, stocked emergency food pantries across rural America, financed legal services and rural rights organizations - even bought eyeglasses for two Iowa schoolgirls.
It has spent close to $500,000 for education, such as a mass mailing alerting more than 80,000 farmers of their rights in foreclosure proceedings.
Nelson says that while his group has not attracted many new donors, the same people give each year.
"Agriculture is just the bottom rung on the economic ladder," Nelson said.
But, "once you get so far away from the farm and you're in Detroit or you're somewhere in New York City and you have your own problems, you're not aware of the farmers' problems."
by CNB