helping to negate risk in farm management agrability for pennsylvanians

Helping to Negate Risk in Farm Management

AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians

What is AgrAbilty?

AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians assists farmers and farm family members who are coping with a disability or long-term health condition. AgrAbility is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture and is a partnership of Penn State Cooperative Extension and Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania. Currently, there are AgrAbility projects in 24 states throughout the United States.

Examples of Client Disabilities

• Amputation• Arthritis• Back injury• Chronic pain• Head injury• Health conditions

• Hearing impairment• Heart conditions• Respiratory diseases• Spinal cord injury• Visual impairment

How AgrAbility Can Help

• Provide on-site assessments of farm operations• Recommend farm equipment adaptations, home

modifications, & adaptive equipment• Provide peer & caregiver support• Refer families to service providers & funding

sources• Offer education and training

Assistive Technology

• Extra Steps

• Hitches

• Lifts

• Utility Vehicles

• Hand Controls

• Hand Tools

George Townley: Beef Producer• Stroke Victim

Power Lift

Bob Stone:Bob Stone:Replacement Cattle, Replacement Cattle, CropsCrops • Diabetes

• Back injury from farm accident 20+ years ago

• Side entrance skid steer• Silage bagging system

Tim Nowlin:Dairy Producer

• Automobile Accident in 2002• Crushed pelvis• Collapsed lung• Severe internal injuries

affecting the spleen, aorta, liver, & diaphragm

• Broken ribs• Head trauma• Subsequent Staph

infection in pelvis

Speed Hitches

Glen Weaver: Grain, hay

• Cancer survivor• Automatic sprayer

• Prosthetic leg specially adapted for uneven terrain

• Utility vehicle

AgrAbility & Risk Management

• Project Overview:• Individualized support• Partnership with multiple agricultural

organizations to present risk management subjects to wide audience

• Public Service Announcements

Project Overview

• Individualized Support• Farm business planning services to past and

present clients• Provide the resource materials: Making

Decisions at Difficult Times from the Breaking New Ground Project, to all clients.

Project Overview

• Partners in presenting Risk Management subject matter:• PA Farm Bureau• PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture• Keystone Agricultural Innovation Center

Project Overview

• Risk Management Topics• Crop Insurance• Farm Liability & Incident Prevention• First on the Scene Training (Human Resource)• Direct Marketing/Value Added Agriculture

Liabilities & Requirements

Risk Management

• Gene Gantz, USDA Risk Management , discusses crop insurance with producers following a presentation at a Farm Bureau region meeting in Central PA.

Risk Managment

• Eric Rickenbach, emergency services expert, discusses “hidden” farm hazards. Prior to Rickenbach, producers heard from a Loss Prevention Specialist regarding farm liability.

Risk Management

Dave Hill, Penn State, educates on taking risks with farm safety.

Risk Management

• Direct marketing & value added agriculture:• Liabilities and

Licensing

Public Service Announcements

• 30 & 60 second announcements produced at a local radio station• AgrAbility staff copied & mailed to more than

50 country radio stations throughout Pennsylvania

• Bi-annual project to keep spots current

AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians

Crystal Smithmyer

cmsmyer@aol.com

814-674-6277