Where To Go When Accident Or Illness Strikes

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #1, Page #24

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AgrAbility has been working with injured or ill farmers for more than 30 years, since ag engineering professor Bill Field at Purdue University started the Breaking New Ground Resource Center in 1979. That center later served as the model for the USDA AgrAbility Program, established by the 1990 Farm Bill, and which now has state organizations across the country.
  "In the past we worked mostly with farmers injured by some traumatic event. But increasingly we are working with farmers who are slowed down by age and conditions like arthritis," says Field.
  The organization gets many of its ideas from the people being served and in publications such as FARM SHOW. They make the ideas available to farmers and ranchers who come to them looking for help.
  Ideas are as varied as farming itself: A track system was created so dairy farmers with bad hips or knees can sit while milking in a Herringbone parlor. Pedal extenders and hydraulic actuators on equipment enable farmers under 4 ft. tall to farm. A Vietnam veteran who lost both legs was able to do custom baling with hand-controlled, modified equipment.
  "I know a Michigan blueberry grower with incredible disabilities who raises great blueberries," Field says. "Watching him is as moving as any religious experience I can describe. Slowly, patiently, he does the needed trimming. It just takes longerà I once went home with 38 lbs. of blueberries," says Field.
  The Breaking New Ground Resource Center has produced more than 50 publications that are free to farmers, which address very specific conditions: limited visibility, cerebral palsy, and arthritis, for example. The organization also offers a "Toolbox" in CD form with 900 adaptive aids. Both a print version and CD are available for purchase.
  In 2011, AgrAbility will hold its 20th National Training Workshop in Indianapolis on Nov. 7-10, 2011. Among the attendees will be AgrAbility staff and other rehabilitation professionals and farmers with disabilities ranging from stroke to spinal cord injury to amputation. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with engineers and other professionals and tell their stories to figure out even better adaptations to help them. In addition, AgrAbility is hosting a conference on farming with arthritis at the Beck Educational Center in West Lafayette, Ind., on May 11-13, 2011.

    Support AgrAbility
  • Volunteers and donations to AgrAbility are always needed. Check out the website (www.agrability.org) to find a project in your area to support.
  • Financial contributions help pay for an 800 phone number, fees for farmers with disabilities to attend training workshops, mailings and publications.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, AgrAbility, Breaking New Ground Resource Center, 225 S. University St., West Lafayette, Ind. 47907 (ph 800 825-4264; www.agrability.org).

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Where To Go When Accident Or Illness Strikes AG WORLD Ag World AgrAbility has been working with injured or ill farmers for more than 30 years since ag engineering professor Bill Field at Purdue University started the Breaking New Ground Resource Center in 1979 That center later served as the model for the USDA AgrAbility Program established by the 1990 Farm Bill and which now has state organizations across the country In the past we worked mostly with farmers injured by some traumatic event But increasingly we are working with farmers who are slowed down by age and conditions like arthritis says Field The organization gets many of its ideas from the people being served and in publications such as FARM SHOW They make the ideas available to farmers and ranchers who come to them looking for help Ideas are as varied as farming itself: A track system was created so dairy farmers with bad hips or knees can sit while milking in a Herringbone parlor Pedal extenders and hydraulic actuators on equipment enable farmers under 4 ft tall to farm A Vietnam veteran who lost both legs was able to do custom baling with hand-controlled modified equipment I know a Michigan blueberry grower with incredible disabilities who raises great blueberries Field says Watching him is as moving as any religious experience I can describe Slowly patiently he does the needed trimming It just takes longerà I once went home with 38 lbs of blueberries says Field The Breaking New Ground Resource Center has produced more than 50 publications that are free to farmers which address very specific conditions: limited visibility cerebral palsy and arthritis for example The organization also offers a Toolbox in CD form with 900 adaptive aids Both a print version and CD are available for purchase In 2011 AgrAbility will hold its 20th National Training Workshop in Indianapolis on Nov 7-10 2011 Among the attendees will be AgrAbility staff and other rehabilitation professionals and farmers with disabilities ranging from stroke to spinal cord injury to amputation Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with engineers and other professionals and tell their stories to figure out even better adaptations to help them In addition AgrAbility is hosting a conference on farming with arthritis at the Beck Educational Center in West Lafayette Ind on May 11-13 2011 Support AgrAbility • Volunteers and donations to AgrAbility are always needed Check out the website www agrability org to find a project in your area to support • Financial contributions help pay for an 800 phone number fees for farmers with disabilities to attend training workshops mailings and publications Contact: FARM SHOW Followup AgrAbility Breaking New Ground Resource Center 225 S University St West Lafayette Ind 47907 ph 800 825-4264; www agrability org

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