Grant Lindell knows the ins and outs of farm finance from both sides: the bank office and the tractor cab.

He knows that for some North Dakota farmers - particularly those in flooded areas - getting money to plant a crop is getting tougher by the year.

"It's scary at best," said Lindell, a loan officer who also farms in western Walsh County. "It has everybody's attention."

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., on Friday unveiled an online petition that he hopes will help push farm disaster aid legislation through Congress. The legislation would provide an estimated $175 million for North Dakota farmers, he said.

Rodney Hogan, farm loan director in North Dakota for the federal Farm Service Agency, said his agency is seeing more requests this year for emergency operating loans. The Pembina County FSA office has reported 42 applications this year - triple the usual number.

FSA provides disaster loans to farmers who have been denied credit elsewhere because they are strapped financially or unable to show a profit in the coming year.

"We're seeing some requests above average in the eastern part of the state," Hogan said. Many of those farmers found conditions too wet to plant in 2005, he said.

Farmers who are insured get payments for acres they are unable to plant because of weather conditions. However, "Crop insurance kind of takes you (only) to the break-even point," Hogan said.

A North Dakota State University Extension Service report earlier this year said that farm profit fell an average of nearly 50 percent in the Red River Valley and 80 percent in northeastern North Dakota last year.

Lindell said a series of tough weather years in northeastern North Dakota has strapped some farmers, and with soaring fuel and fertilizer costs this year, "It's almost a given that a good number of them could come up short again."

Tom Silbernagel, administrator of the state's Agriculture Mediation Service, said more farmers have been seeking help from his office. The service helps farmers resolve disputes with creditors and offers such other assistance as financial and credit counseling, and help with paperwork.

Silbernagel estimated that the number of calls for help has doubled since January, with more than 30 calls received this month. He said "a good portion" of the increase is coming from northern and northeastern North Dakota, areas that have experienced extensive flooding in recent years.

"A lot of operating loans (from last year) didn't get paid back, so they're having to refinance using emergency loans with real estate as equity," Silbernagel said. "They're using real estate equity just to stay farming."

Lindell said some farmers are getting out of the business because of that. "They don't want to lose everything they've worked so hard for," he said.

Walsh County Extension Agent Brad Brummond said he expects a lot of acres to go unplanted again this year because of flooding.

"Some of these guys … have been looking at a recurring issue for the last five or six years," he said. "The ones it's really hurting is the young startup guys, or fathers trying to finance a son into the operation.

"I think next year will probably be the make-or-break year for a lot of people," Brummond said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has predicted that nationwide, net income for an average farmer this year will be $48,600, down from $68,300 last year.

Farm-state lawmakers are trying to push an estimated $4 billion in agricultural disaster aid through Congress. Silbernagel said federal aid can help, though it "really only delays the day of reckoning in most cases."

Dorgan, one of the main proponents of the disaster aid package, on Friday unveiled a petition on his Web site, http://dorgan.senate.gov, that North Dakota residents can sign to show support for the legislation. President Bush has promised to veto the measure, which also faces opposition from House leadership.

The legislation goes to a House-Senate conference committee, likely next week.

"I think frankly this is the last chance to get agriculture disaster relief," Dorgan said. "Pressure on the White House is key."

Dorgan said he will ask other senators to also put the petition on their Web sites.