Harvest Song

First there was Band Aid. Then USA for Africa. Most recently Live Aid, a memorably star-studded, superglam affair. All were for the benefit of African drought victims. Next Sunday the trend continues, albeit for a different group and in a slightly lower gear: Willie Nelson and some of his country music cousins are planning Farm Aid, a benefit concert at the University of Illinois football stadium in Champaign (pop. 58,000) to benefit debt-ridden American farmers.

Nelson, the grizzly Texas superstar who blends western and pop music, has garnered support from across the musical spectrum. Pop stars like John Cougar Mellencamp, as well as Country Veterans Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard, will be joined by old-time Rockers Bob Dylan and Neil Young for the twelve- hour extravaganza. Many residents of Champaign are opening their homes to the 78,000 people scheduled to attend.

"The main point of Farm Aid," says Illinois Governor James Thompson, "is to bring the plight of the American farmer to the attention of the nation." Beyond the publicity, however, it is not likely to have much of an impact. The $70 million Nelson hopes to raise would cover little more than one day's interest on the ballooning debt of the nation's farmers, which is currently $213 billion and climbing. "Willie can sing and pluck all night long," says Don Murphy, who sold his 240-acre farm in Henry, Ill., last year because he could not turn a profit. "But he's not going to make much headway with farm debt. We're in too deep."

Nelson, who grew up on a small Texas cotton farm, knows how hard it is to get money to those who need it. In August he met with 50 farmers to discuss what to do with the proceeds. One plan is to apportion the money among the states, but there is still much confusion about where it would go from there. Said Nelson: "A lot of good ideas, and we took 'em all down."

There is, of course, a hefty dose of down-on-the-farm skepticism. "Publicity," scoffed Illinois Corn Farmer Richard Layden. "That's all it is. And more for the performers than the farmers." Still, Farm Aid may be the one bright spot in what is shaping up to be a brutal year in the fields. Bumper crops will probably depress prices to record lows. As Willie says in a song composed for Farm Aid, "When you are farming for a living/ You make your money from the ground/ You take it to the bankers/ And there ain't enough to go around."