Farm Rescue has been helping farm families in distress since 2006, and this fall the North Dakota organization plans to expand its operations into Iowa.

Elizabeth Reiss, who will coordinate Farm Rescue’s Iowa operations along with those in southern Minnesota and southeastern South Dakota, said the organization, along with volunteers and donated equipment, will be in the state at harvest time.

Farm Rescue is based in Jamestown, N.D., where it was founded by an commercial jet pilot who took a critical look at farm country and decided that families who have been hobbled by injury, illness or natural disasters could use extra hands when planting and harvesting their crops.

Founder Bill Gross grew up on a North Dakota farm, but he makes his living flying around the globe for United Parcel Service Inc. “His heart never left the farm,” Reiss said of Gross.

The organization’s nine-member board assesses applications that are taken over the telephone or from a website and determines where it can help the most. Farm Rescue’s sponsoring organizations also nominate their customers who have fallen on hard times.

Major sponsors are Wal-Mart Stores Inc.; RDO Equipment Co. of Fargo, N.D., which supplies the tractors and combines and other harvest equipment; and Wilson Trailer Co. of Sioux City. Stine Seed Co. of Adel recently signed on as well. The organization relies on volunteers to help as well.

Farm Rescue will not help families who have filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors or who have mismanaged their farms, Reiss said.

The decision to expand operations into Iowa from North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana was based on a determination that there is a lot of need in the state, Reiss said.

Help is delivered to families who typically have suffered a temporary setback. It is unlikely that assistance will be based on this year’s historic drought, Reiss said.Gross formed the organization because contemporary farmers sometimes are too busy to help neighbors.

The organization, which listed revenues of slightly more than $300,000 in 2010, is supported solely by donations and grants.

“There really aren’t a lot of other nonprofits like us,” Reiss said.