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The 12 states comprising the North Central Region have been affected in similar ways by the farm crisis of the 1980s. Statewide surveys show sizeable proportions of farm operations that are experiencing moderately high levels of financial stress. The problems caused by chronic stress on family structure and functioning, the loss of mainstreet businesses, and bank closing are felt throughout the region. The Cooperative Extension Agencies in the states have approached the problems in similar ways. They have developed new programs with long- and short-term efforts, and they have adapted existing programs with short-term or temporary activities and long-term commitments. Extension has been most heavily involved in developing new, relatively short-term programs such as the use of hotlines, crisis intervention teams, and bankrupcy or bank closing response teams. New, long-term programs include projects and research designed to achieve economic and agricultural diversification. The