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• JAMESTOWN, N.D. (AP) -- A nonprofit organization that helps farm families in need is accepting planting applications from farmers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and eastern Montana.
• North Dakota-based Farm Rescue assisted 50 farm families in 2013 and hopes to help a similar number of families this year.
• Farm Rescue was founded in 2006 by North Dakota farm boy and cargo plane pilot Bill Gross to assist farm families who have experienced a major illness, injury or natural disaster. The organization has helped more than 250 families since its inception. It does not dole out money but instead enlists volunteers to help with the planting and harvesting of crops.
• Priority is being given to applications for planting help that are received by April 1.
• "Friends and neighbors may also anonymously refer a family that is in need of assistance, since some families are hesitant to ask for assistance themselves," Gross said.
• Farm Rescue relies on volunteers, business sponsors and donations. It is introducing a "Sponsor-A-Volunteer" program this year to enable donors to help with the costs of lodging and food for the volunteers who do the farm labor.
• "We are requesting people to consider helping us offset some volunteer costs, which in turn will allow Farm Rescue to mobilize more volunteers," Gross said.
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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota's winter wheat crop and livestock herds appear to be in good shape as the winter progresses.
• The federal Agriculture Department says in its monthly crop report that 60 percent of the winter wheat crop is rated good to excellent, and only 16 percent is rated poor or very poor.
• Cattle and calf conditions are rated 77 percent good to excellent, and sheep and lamb conditions 76 percent in those categories.
• Stockwater supplies are 89 percent adequate to surplus, and hay and forage supplies are 95 percent in those categories.

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