University of Wisconsin - Extension

A recently released study confirmed that an organization founded to help farmers with disabilities keep farming not only works, but also increases productivity and income for a significant number of disabled farmers.

Thirty-five percent of respondents to the survey said the help they got from "AgrAbility of Wisconsin," increased their financial return. Forty-four percent said AgrAbility's help led to an increase in productivity.

AgrAbility of Wisconsin provides education and assistance to farmers with disabilities and has helped about 1,200 people since it was founded in 1991, according to Ron Schuler, a professor of agricultural engineering and director of the Wisconsin and National AgrAbility programs. The program, which operates in partnership with Easter Seals Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin-Extension, works directly with farmers to assess their disabilities and recommend adaptations or equipment that can help keep them in business.

"Some commonly recommended things are utility vehicles to help farmers get around off-road on the farm, added steps to make it easier to get into a tractor, and automatic hitches for attaching equipment without getting in and out of the tractor," Schuler said.

Respondents said AgrAbility's assistance increased their ability to do farm chores (55.7 percent), to operate machinery (64.4 percent), perform management functions (61.4 percent), and modify machinery (62.8 percent). Between 20 and 30 percent of respondent reported they were unable to do these things.

In Wisconsin, 116 of the 200 AgrAbility participants who received questionnaires responded. Respondents were 87 percent male and their average age was 52. They had been disabled because of a non-agricultural health condition (44 percent), an agricultural incident (45 percent), or a non-agricultural incident (10 percent).

To learn more about AgrAbility, go to the Web site at http://www.bse.wisc.edu/agrability