The South Dakota Farm Loan Mediation Program is seeing slightly higher requests for help this year. South Dakota Department of Agriculture Mediation Program Director Taya Runyon says they normally see up to 250 requests for their services on an annual basis.

She says most of the requests for mediation services happen during a four month period at the end of the year into the first part of a new year.

Runyon says they have two types of mediation, one is mandatory and the other voluntary.

Runyon says it’s important those needing mediation keep the lines of communication open with their creditor and communicate as early as possible to avoid any problems down the road.