JAMESTOWN (AP) - A nonprofit group that helps farmers who are sick or injured says it will lend a hand to 24 farmers planting crops this spring.

Farm Rescue says that is double the number of farmers it helped last year. They include farmers who have been sidelined by spinal cord injuries, heart problems, cancer treatment and destruction from a tornado.

Farm Rescue relies on corporate sponsors, grants and volunteers. It offers help in the fields, not cash, to those who meet certain farm size and gross sales guidelines. Its founder and president, Bill Gross, is a pilot and North Dakota native.

Gross says the group now has more than 100 sponsors.

Operations Director Christina Hood says volunteers are coming from all over the country to help this spring.