AgrAbility of Wisconsin Receives USDA Grant
Since 1991, AgrAbility of Wisconsin (AAW) has influenced Wisconsin agriculture by providing assistance to over 1,800 farmers, family members and farm employees experiencing difficulties due to a disability. Recently, AAW was awarded a 4-year grant from the United States Department of Agriculture–National Institute of Food and Agriculture to continue providing education, networking, and assistance for Wisconsin farmers. We are happy to announce this grant as this award makes the AgrAbility program in Wisconsin one of the longest continuously funded projects in the country.
Through AAW intervention, most of our participants have been able to continue farming. The 19-year partnership between Easter Seals Wisconsin (ESW) and the University of Wisconsin-Extension (UWEX) has been key in the program’s success. Between 2006 and 2009 Wisconsin’s program served an average of 455 clients annually, of which over 90% continued farming. To increase the likelihood of success for current and future clients, AAW will continue its commitment o three goals: Education, Networking, and Assistance.
Education: AAW aims to increase future professional capability by educating health, equipment, and government service providers. Occupational and physical therapists, DVR counselors, farm and adaptive equipment dealers, and extension employees will learn about AgrAbility partnership services. Professionals with little or no experience in farming or disability will be educated directly about farm culture and methods for successful disability accommodation through appropriate rehabilitation services. Presentations at professional conferences, discussions with students at the technical college and University of Wisconsin system campuses are all examples of how we intend to reach some of our audiences. We will collaborate with the California-AgrAbility project to create safety information and materials geared towards Spanish speaking farm employees. Addition ally, we will be working with engineering student groups at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus to develop solutions for farmers where off-the-shelf products do not exist. Some examples of past projects include hand controls for utility vehicles, and modifications for feeding calves from bulk tanks.
Networking: AAW promotes the sharing of information and allows the grant funds to be used where they can do the most good. AAW will work with agricultural and health organizations such as the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), the Wisconsin Farm Center, FFA chapters and alumni groups, Arthritis Action Council, and Independent Living Centers. These working relationships can be maintained through farm business planning, sharing outreach information among organizations working toward common goals, and providing service learning opportunities for young professionals. One strategy AAW will continue is hosting farmer-to-farmer meetings every year. This is an opportunity for neighbors to connect and share information. Another strategy is the Farmers Net work, through which volunteers, including former and current clients, agree to be available to con tact new clients and serve on an Advisory Council to help direct the activities of AAW.
Assistance: This component of the project provides for direct, individualized service to help clients continue to be successful on their farms. AAW’s goal is to provide services to at least 100 farmers and farm family members per year and assist 50 new individuals each year. The WI Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) provides funding for clients who receive an average of 40 hours of service. This includes case management, on-farm assessment, analysis of tasks and identification of appropriate job restructuring or assistive technology, and follow up to ensure success of the plan. The Easter Seals FARM Program takes the lead on this component and AAW will continue to provide intake and evaluation related to the impact of the service on the farmer’s life and livelihood.
There is also a marketing component that includes web site updates, development and exploration of the use of social networking, quarterly newsletter production, AAW brochure and display development, radio and newspaper interviews and articles and development of hands-on project displays.
We are excited to be starting another 4-year cycle of work for Wisconsin farm families. If you have any questions, or would like to be part of the Farm er Network or Advisory Council, please feel free to contact the AgrAblity office at aaw@mailplus.wisc.edu for more information.
Safety First- ROPS Retrofit Guide On-line.
“We know rollover injuries are preventable,” said Mark Purschwitz, Extension professor and agri cultural safety and health specialist for the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture. “We just need to help farmers see the importance of hav ing ROPS on their equipment and then provide information that helps them do it.”
Research shows that rollover protective structures (ROPS), when used in combination with a seat belt, are 98 percent effective in preventing death and serious injury in the event of a tractor over turn.
Nevertheless, more than a third of tractors in use today- and perhaps as many as 50 percent in Kentucky – still do not have these lifesaving structures.
To that end, Purschwitz and his colleagues at UK developed The Kentucky ROPS Guide to help farmers locate retrofit ROPS for older tractors or even “gray market” tractors (i.e., non-U.S. made tractors imported without manufacturer authorization). The guide is now available online at http:// warehouse.ca.uky.edu/rops/ropshome.asp
“The guide is designed for farmers, dealers and technicians, not only in Kentucky, but also throughout the United States and Canada,” he said. “It enables users to quickly determine what ROPS are available for which tractors, which companies supply retrofit ROPS, and how and where to obtain these ROPS.”
Purschwitz explained the guide offers a full search capability, enabling any tractor owner, equipment dealer or technician to find timely, detailed information about ROPS suppliers and types. Guide users may also determine the avail ability, source and ordering procedures for retrofit ROPS for any domestic or imported agricultural tractor in the United States for which a retrofit is available.” The days of searching through scattered computer records and paperwork are over,” he said.
Several features of the new online guide are particularly easy to use. Notably, users can search the guide by simply selecting a tractor make and model number. The guide’s database includes makes and models of “gray market” tractors, particularly Japanese compact trac tors, frequently sold in the U.S. market today.
Development of The Kentucky ROPS Guide was supported by the Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention, Uni versity of Kentucky College of Public Health, through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Cooperative Agreement U50 OH007547-07S1.
By Aimee Neilson, University of Kentucky
Using the Internet to Find Solutions
There are a number of resources available on the internet for farmers seeking solutions to make their farm work safer, more efficient, or less strenuous. Both the AAW and Easter Seals FARM Program have websites with general information available. The AAW website (www.bse.wise.edu/agrability) has an archive with current and past versions of the newsletters. The Easter Seals FARM Program website (http://farm.eastersealswisconsin.com/) has a number of resources including the Agricultural Equipment Exchange. These are good starting points for anyone looking for general information about the AAW or the FARM Program.
Searchable AT Database on UWEX FYI site:
If you are searching for ways to make some of your chores easier or if you want to see what other equipment is available, there is a searchable database of products available. The Assistive Technology Database is active on the University of Wisconsin – Extension FYI site. (http://fyi.uwex. edu/assistivetech/) Some features you’ll find in this database include: a gallery view .for pictures of the equipment, and the ability to search by category or limitation. Advanced features can be found in the left hand column toward the bottom. These quick search buttons allow the user to click on a topic like “Fencing” or “Vision Loss” and find all the products that have been entered and categorized into the database by that general task or limitation. There are over 800 products listed in the database. The Assistive Technology Database is different from the Equipment Exchange site where farmers can exchange equipment directly. If you have, or know of a product that should be listed in the searchable database, send information to the AAW office at aaw@mailplus.wisc.edu
Agricultural Equipment Exchange
Sometimes, a farmer has a piece of technology that is no longer needed but doesn’t quite h’f;lve the funds for another that is needed. An exchange site was established to receive and provide used equipment list available to farmers who need it. Such items have included: a round bale slicer for skid steer, freestall dividers, feed belt conveyors, and a tractor chair lift for a John Deere 4455. This equipment is ready to be transferred to farmers needing the equipment. The contact information, and price for the equipment are usually listed. If you have equipment that you would like to place on the exchange site, there is a form on the website. This equipment does not have to be disability specific as many items like added steps, lighter milk ing units, and automatic take-offs are common com mercial solutions for helping farmers experiencing difficulty. The website for the Agricultural Equipment Exchange is: http:/1144.92.31.11/main.php
Also, see the “Safety First” article for another website with information for retrofitting tractors with Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS).
Partners… New Project Leader
The Project Leader for the new grant is Dr. Richard “Dick” Straub, PhD from the Biological Systems Engineering Department. Dick has been a member of the Biological Systems Engineering Department at UW-Madison for over 30 years. Since 1999, he has also held administrative positions in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Dick has been involved in a number of freshmen engineering projects where students have completed designs for several farmers with disabilities. He has also operated an active farm all his professional life.
We want to thank Dr. Ron Schuler, PhD for all of his hard work over these many years supporting farmers with disabilities and the efforts of AgrAbil ity throughout the nation. Ron has successfully guided the state project since its inception and led the National AgrAbility Project while it was housed at UW-Madison from 2000-2008. Ron hasn’t retired completely yet. He is the general manager of the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.
Plowing Ahead
Published by AgrAbility of Wisconsin Editor/Layout Designer:Bob Meyer Please direct inquiries to:
AgrAbility of Wisconsin
http://bse.wisc.edu/agrability/
460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706 (608) 262-9336 Voice (608) 262-1228 Fax aaw@mailplus.wisc.edu
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This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under special project number 2014-41590-22330. UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming including Title IX and ADA. If you need this material in another format, please contact AgrAbility of Wisconsin at (608) 262-9336. |
Plowing Ahead