Keeping Agriculture Alive in Vermont

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Created on Thursday, 27 March 2014 17:06
Written by Katrina Floranza

agrabilityNORTHEAST KINGDOM- Agriculture plays a large role in the Northeast Kingdom. With many farms around the area, one of University of Vermont's Extension Programs is working on furthering their outreach to farmers.

 

The Vermont AgrAbility Project aims to help injured farmers in hopes to get them back on their feet and into the field. The project is a free service and reaches out not only to injured farmers, but to farmers with chronic health conditions as well.

Those involved with the project provide services that will help benefit farmers when it comes to agricultural work. Coordinators will modify the farm work, making it easier for injured farmers to tend to their farms.

Geoff Whitchurch, Outreach Coordinator, explains the procedure of the AgrAbility Project, "They would call us. We would meet with that farmer, we would discuss the type of problem that they're having on their farm. What they're unable to do, what they want to be able to do. We would talk about what types of modifications we could help that farmer do on his farm. It depends on what the farmer is having trouble with."

Past projects have allowed coordinators to supply swivel chairs in tractors for farmers with back pain, lowering a step on a tractor for those with arthritis, and making entry easier into trucks or hay storage areas.

Whitchurch reminisces, "One great quote is from one farmer who had arthritis in his knee. We lowered the step for him to get into his tractor and he pointed out and said, 'This new step is paradise.'"

The project allows many coordinators to remain hopeful in preventing farm liabilities. They believe it is also helping agriculture in Vermont by allowing farmers to continue their success.

George Cook, Extension Specialist, admires the success of this project, "How can we make things work? How can we keep people doing what they love to do? We have this opportunity with the Agrability Project. That's probably a very rewarding part of it is just seeing the pleasure and the contentment on the folks' faces that we're able to help."

Referrals are also offered for financial assistance and education to farmers. Any injured agricultural worker in Vermont can apply for such assistance.

The University of Vermont Extension will also offer an "Across The Fence" program this summer. The goal of the program will be to help work on community outreach, as well as developing better connections throughout the state of Vermont.