Farm Rescue Mobilized Volunteers for Harvest Season
The organization has deployed 300 volunteers across 12 states to assist farmers facing illness, injury, or disaster.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Agriculture
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Farm Rescue has mobilized a network of 300 volunteers to provide critical support to farmers and ranchers across 12 states. The organization offers assistance with planting, harvesting, and livestock feeding for those struggling with injury, illness, or natural disasters.
Why it matters
The group provides essential labor support to agricultural families facing personal or environmental crises, such as the drought and wildfires that necessitate Operation Hay Lift. This assistance helps maintain food production for those unable to complete essential farm operations themselves.
Farm Rescue currently coordinates a network of 300 volunteers across 12 states. The group provides support with planting, harvesting, and livestock feeding to farmers dealing with medical or disaster-related setbacks.
The players
Farm Rescue
This non-profit organization provides equipment and volunteer labor to family farmers and ranchers facing major crises.
The details
Operation Hay Lift remains a key component of the organization, hauling donated hay to ranchers whose pastures were destroyed by drought or wildfires. Volunteers manage the mobilization of specialized equipment, though current harvest efforts are being stalled by heavy rainfall in September 2026.
Timeline
Drought conditions affected South Dakota farmers during the 2026 growing season.
Requests for harvest assistance were received throughout the 2026 harvest season.
Heavy rainfall has delayed harvest operations since September 2026.
Market Landscape
This effort reflects a larger industry trend of non-profit entities filling essential labor gaps in the agricultural sector during periods of climate-induced crisis. It follows the pattern set by regional relief networks that provide localized support to farmers facing extreme weather threats.
For agricultural families, this assistance means the difference between completing a season and suffering total crop loss due to injury or disaster. The service provides critical, no-cost labor during periods where farmers cannot manage heavy equipment or livestock feeding themselves.
The takeaway
Maintaining operational flexibility is crucial for farmers navigating unpredictable environmental conditions like recent regional rainfall. Engaging with regional support networks can provide a vital safety net when personal or climatic events threaten a farm's annual viability.
Further reading
Learn more about support initiatives in the Agriculture section.
More information
Find out more about the organization by visiting the Farm Rescue assistance and volunteer information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KELO-LAND TV.
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