USDA NAMES NATIONAL PARTNERS TO HELP FARMERS WITH DISABILITIES

The University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension, and Easter Seals, Inc. recently won a four-year grant to provide training, technical assistance and information support to the AgrAbility Program, the nation's largest program dedicated to helping people with disabilities to succeed in agricultural production. The two organizations competed for the award, which was made by U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

Agricultural production is one of the nation's most hazardous industries. More than 200,000 people working in agriculture are injured annually, with thousands incurring permanent impairment. An estimated 500,000 farmers, ranchers, and farm workers have physical disabilities that interfere with their ability to perform their work.

The AgrAbility Program was created in 1991 to help people with disabilities employed in agriculture. It links Cooperative Extension services with nonprofit disability service organizations to provide practical education and assistance. Eighteen states have AgrAbility Projects funded by USDA, using a fiscal 2000 appropriation of $2.5 million. At least a half dozen other states have affiliated programs serving disabled agricultural producers using other funds.

The University of Wisconsin and Easter Seals plan to collaborate on the project. Project participants include university extension services serving African-American and Native-American agricultural producers, the Farm Foundation, the National Center for Farmworker Health, the National Council on Independent Living, the National Farm Medicine Center at the Marshfield Clinic, the Trace Research and Development Center, Women Involved in Farm Economics, and the University of Montana's Rural Institute.

For project information, contact AgrAbility staff toll free at University of Wisconsin-Extension 866-259-6280 or Easter Seals 800-914-4424.