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December 2000  You
Are Here.
December
2000
Agricultural Expos Scheduled
for January
The 2001 PA State Farm Show will be held January 6th - 11th at the State
Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. AgrAbility is working with PA Department
of Agriculture and the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to provide
AgrAbility information at this year's event. The booth will be located
in the main exhibit area of the Farm Show Complex and will focus on agricultural
safety and health issues.
Thank you to PA Department of Agriculture and AHEC for providing AgrAbility
information at the PA State Farm Show.
The Keystone Farm Show is located in York, PA and will be held January
9 - 11, 2001. In order to provide information at the Keystone Farm Show,
AgrAbility staff contacted various dealers to request space at their exhibit
for AgrAbility information.
Many thanks to Sones Grain System, Alfa Laval Agri and Sollenberger Silos
for providing space for AgrAbility information at their booths at the
Keystone Farm Show.
Susqhehanna Valley Malls Raises $650 for an AgrAbility Farmer
AgrAbility staff would like to thank the Susquehanna Valley Mall and Country
WJUN 92.5 FM for their leadership in coordinating the Fall Fest on Saturday,
October 21, 2000. This exciting event raised $650 for a farmer in Columbia
County. The funds will be used to assist the farmer in returning to his
farm operation.
The event consisted of a radio station scarecrow contest, pumpkin carving
and painting, scarecrow workshop, and an auction. Weis Markets sold cider,
pies, and candy apples throughout the day. This is the second year for
the Fall Fest and it continues to grow in support. Mall merchants graciously
donated goods for the auction.
Thank you to the Susquehanna Valley Mall, Weis Markets, WJUN 92.5 FM,
and mall merchants for your interest in helping a farmer in your area
return to agricultural production.
AgrAbility Advisors and Staff would like to thank you for your support
during the past year and to wish you a safe and happy holiday season.
FARM SAFETY: TAKE TIME FOR OFF-SEASON INSPECTIONS
As the 2000 crop year begins to wind down, you may find you have more
time to work on some of those projects around the farm that you didn't
have time to complete during the growing season. One issue that should
never be overlooked is equipment safety. If you haven't done so recently,
AGCO safety specialists urge you to conduct a safety audit of your equipment.
Key issues to check include:
Lighting: Make sure all bulbs are working. All covers and reflectors are
not damaged, but clean and in good condition.
SMV Emblems: Check the Slow-Moving-Vehicle emblems on your tractors, harvesting
equipment, and wagons. Make sure they are firmly attached with no missing
screws or bolts. Make sure they are clean and easily visible. If paint
has faded or tape has peeled, it is time to install a new SMV emblem.
PTO Shield: During a busy season, power take-off "master shields" often
sustain damage from impacts resulting from misaligned implement hook-ups.
It is important to check frequently to ensure that shields are
firmly attached, are not damaged and rotate freely. If a shield needs
to be replaced or repaired, the investment is small compared to the
potential
danger.
ROPS and Seat Belts: If, for any reason, a rollover protective structure
and seat belt are missing from your tractor, it's critical that you immediately
correct the situation.
After all equipment items related to safety have been checked and problems
corrected, there's one other important thing you can do to better protect
your operation from mishaps: Plan a safety meeting for your farm. If yours
is strictly a family operation, gather everyone around the family room
for a discussion of key safety issues. If you have employees, schedule
a similar meeting for them. For more information about farm safety, contact
your local County Cooperative Extension office.
(Article adapted from "Perform Off-Season Inspections" in
Agricultural Safety and Health News, Volume 12 Number 1, January/February
2000.)
AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians will host the 2001 National AgrAbility Training
Workshop. Watch for details!
PROBLEM SOLVED
Problem: Passing through a cattle gate without leaving your vehicle for
someone with a mobility impairment.
Solution: Concrete Smith Cattle Guard provides a precast, one-piece, steel-reinforced,
slotted concrete slab that is set in the ground flush with the surface.
Lifetime guarantee.
Concrete Smith Cattle Guard
Supplier: Easi-Set Industries
Phone: 540-439-3266
Estimated cost: $600
(Information provided by "The Toolbox", Breaking New Ground
Resource Center.)
FROM THE DIRECTORS' DESK ...
Creating Solutions, Changing Lives
As the CEO of Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania, it is exciting to see
how AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians is continually creating solutions and
changing lives for farm families across the Commonwealth. AgrAbility fills
a gap in services for farmers and farm families. This has been an exciting
year as we increased opportunities by working with college occupational
therapy programs at Penn State - Mont Alto and St. Francis College. These
types of partnerships benefit all parties involved. It is beneficial for
the occupational therapy student to learn that there are career opportunities
outside of a traditional clinic. When students work with an AgrAbility
client, the client benefits from the piece of assistive technology that
is developed or through specific information from the students. This type
of partnering is quite valuable to AgrAbility staff; it helps to expand
services and provide unique opportunities for students and clients.
AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians will continue to develop relationships with
student groups at the high school and college level in the coming year
through projects, internships, and volunteer opportunities. If your student
group is interest in working with AgrAbility, please contact Linda Fetzer,
AgrAbility Casemanager, at (814) 238-4434 {voice/TTY}.
Jeanne Hanlin - CEO - Easter Seals Central PA
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT
THE TOOLBOX
Breaking New Ground Resource Center recently released "The Toolbox",
which is the 3rd edition of "Agricultural Tools, Equipment, Machinery,
and Buildings for Farmers and Ranchers with Physical Disabilities".
The Toolbox is a valuable resource manual of assistive technology and
modifications for agricultural operations. Topics include:
* Tractor Lifts and Accessories
* Hitching Equipment
* Livestock Handling
* Shop Accessibility
* Outdoor Mobility
* Crop & Materials Handling/Storage
* Safety & Health
For information about ordering a copy, contact BNG at 1-800-825-4264.
For more information about AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians or to share any
ideas about articles for future editions, please contact either Linda
or David.
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The Pennsylvania
State University
Dept. of Agricultural and Extension Education
433 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802
Connie D. Baggett
– AgrAbility Project Director – (814) 863-7415
Linda Fetzer – AgrAbility Project Assistant – (814) 863-7490
Phone: 814-863-7490
Fax: 814-863-4753
Email: lmf8@psu.edu
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Easter Seals
Central Pennsylvania
1300 S. Allen Street
State College, PA 16801
Jeanne Hanlin
– Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania CEO – (814) 944-5014
David Troutman – AgrAbility Case Manager - 814-238-4434 (Voice/TTY)
Phone: 814-238-4434
Fax: 814-238-3721
Email: DTROUTMAN@homenursingagency.com
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