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
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Amputation
Arthritis
Back injury
Chronic pain
Head injury
Health conditions
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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
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Extra Steps
Hitches
Lifts
Utility Vehicles
Hand Controls
Hand Tools
George Townley:
Beef Producer
• Stroke Victim
 Power Lift
Bob Stone:
Replacement Cattle, Crops
• 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
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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