Source: UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA submitted to
NEBRASKA AGRABILITY 2022-2026
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
3D GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1029134
Grant No.
2022-41590-38127
Cumulative Award Amt.
$551,520.00
Proposal No.
2022-02412
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2022
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[LQ]- AgrAbility
Project Director
Yoder, A.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
(N/A)
LINCOLN,NE 68583
Performing Department
IANR, Cooperative Extension Di
Non Technical Summary
Nebraska AgrAbility is a joint effort of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension (Nebraska Extension) and Easterseals Nebraska. Staff from the two organizations address the functional, financial, and emotional needs of Nebraska's farmers and ranchers, or their family members, with disabilities and health-related limitation. Through a collaborative and comprehensive program of education and assistance, Nebraska AgrAbility will continue to assist clients in returning to independent and productive agricultural producers.Individuals who experience disabilities, injuries and adverse health conditions encounter a variety of challenges. For Nebraska's farmers and ranchers, disabilities and chronic health conditions transform an active and independent lifestyle to one of uncertainty, dependence, and adaptation. In addition to the physical and emotional challenges of adjusting to a disability or serious health condition, farm and ranch families often face financial challenges. Those who want to remain in agricultural production may wonder how they can continue. Some may choose other careers because they are unaware of the resources, assistive technology, and peer support available to them.The objectives and activities of this project provide an organized and coherent structure for the project team to accomplish theoverall goal of increasing the likelihood that farmers, farm workers and farm family members with disabilities will experience success in agricultural production.Our goals in education are to increase the competence, confidence and comfort level of healthcare professionals, educators, businesses, and state and federally led rehabilitation programs to understand rural farm culture and how to accommodate limitations of farmers and ranchers with disabilities, and to educate rural Nebraskans, their family members, caregivers, and the public of the importance of preventing initial and secondary injuries, which could otherwise have lifelong impacts to the state's food, fuel, and fiber industry.Networking is imperative to the success of the Nebraska AgrAbility project. By initiating or maintaining open lines of communication with other entities and individuals, the service capacity will be expanded with the ultimate goal of better serving the needs of AgrAbility clients. Further, innovative solutions come from a strong network of those interested in the success of agriculture producers with health-related limitations. These efforts encourage the sharing of information and services between AgrAbility and individuals or other organizations.Assistance satisfies clients' needs and concerns that are often inadequately addressed by health care, agriculture, and government service providers. With guidance and expertise from AgrAbility staff, clients will be able to better understand their current situations and make informed decisions that result in attaining viable solutions leading to economic independence in production agriculture.Marketing of Nebraska AgrAbility is essential to the capacity-building, educational efforts, and expanding awareness of the program. Marketing is intended to make key audiences aware of Nebraska AgrAbility and its initiatives. The recent pandemic has shifted marketing efforts away from as many face-to-face events towards other areas such as radio, tv and billboards.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
7235310202050%
7235310302025%
8016010302025%
Knowledge Area
801 - Individual and Family Resource Management; 723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
5310 - Machinery and equipment; 6010 - Individuals;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
Program Area - EducationOur goals in education are to increase the competence, confidence and comfort level of healthcare professionals, educators, businesses, and state and federally led rehabilitation programs to understand rural farm culture and how to accommodate limitations of farmers and ranchers with disabilities, and to educate rural Nebraskans, their family members, caregivers, and the public of the importance of preventing initial and secondary injuries, which could otherwise have lifelong impacts to the state's food, fuel, and fiber industry.Objective 1.a: Increase the competency of health care professionals to provide relevant accommodations for farmers and ranchers with health-related limitations and disabilities, while gaining greater awareness of Nebraska agricultural operations and farm culture.Objective 1.b: Increase the awareness of safety and worksite solutions related to farming or ranching with a health-related limitation and/or disability amongst educators, agribusiness leaders, women and veteran farmers/ranchers and youth agriculture sectors.Objective 1.c: Increase the expertise of government service providers and rehabilitation service professionals to better relate to agricultural operations and improve return to work strategies for farmers and ranchers with disabilities.Objective 1.d: Increase the awareness of the public about the inherent dangers of production agriculture and the resources available to prevent secondary injury and/or overcome barriers because of disability or health care condition.Objective 1.e: Appraise efficacy of AgrAbility educational efforts.Program Area - NetworkingNetworking is imperative to the success of the Nebraska AgrAbility project. By initiating or maintaining open lines of communication with other entities and individuals, the service capacity will be expanded with the ultimate goal of better serving the needs of AgrAbility clients. Further, innovative solutions come from a strong network of those interested in the success of agriculture producers with health-related limitations. These efforts encourage the sharing of information and services between AgrAbility and individuals or other organizations.Objective 2.a:Effectively use peer volunteers to enhance Nebraska AgrAbility's services to farmers and ranchers with disabilities or health related limitations.Objective 2.b: Build relationships with other agricultural, financial, health and disability businesses and organizations to increase the capacity of Nebraska AgrAbility and better serve clients.Objective 2.c: Create stronger relationships with special populations throughout the state to better reach underserved individuals with Nebraska AgrAbility services.Objective 2.d: Appraise the economic value of services rendered to AgrAbility and its clients.Program Area - Direct AssistanceAssistance satisfies clients' needs and concerns that are often inadequately addressed by health care, agriculture, and government service providers. With guidance and expertise from AgrAbility staff, clients will be able to better understand their current situations and make informed decisions that result in attaining viable solutions leading to economic independence in production agriculture.Objective 3.a: Provide Nebraska AgrAbility clients and others working on the same operation on-site assessments and assistance that will increase their ability to maintain employment in agriculture and to be more productive and independent.Objective 3.b: Increase professional competencies of Nebraska AgrAbility staff so that they are better able to serve clients and improve knowledge and skills in working with farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related conditions.Objective 3.c:Conduct an evaluation with Nebraska AgrAbility clients to determine successes experienced following intervention.Program Area - MarketingMarketing of Nebraska AgrAbility is essential to the capacity-building, educational efforts, and expanding awareness of the program. Marketing is intended to make key audiences aware of Nebraska AgrAbility and its initiatives. The recent pandemic has shifted marketing efforts away from as many face-to-face events towards other areas such as radio, tv and billboards.Objective 4.a: Increase awareness of AgrAbility and the services offered among agricultural and health related businesses and organizations through marketing activities, thus increasing the number of referrals of farmers and ranchers with health-related limitations and disabilities to seek assistance from Nebraska AgrAbility and the collaborations formed to serve clients.Objective 4.b: Evaluate the impact of marketing efforts promoting AgrAbility.?
Project Methods
Program Area - EducationActivity 1.a.1:Offer a comprehensive one day continuing education training titled "Rehabilitating Nebraska's Farmers and Ranchers" targeting health care professionals, especially OT/PTs, nurses and physicians serving rural Nebraska. This training incorporates information about farm culture, Nebraska agriculture, and rural environments, the impact of disability on farmers and ranchers and their families and familiarizes professionals with options for treatment strategies to improve functional outcomes and promote successful return to production agriculture. The curriculum being utilized has been approved for CEU's by the American Occupational Therapist Association and the American Physical Therapist Association and was originally drafted by Carla Wilhite, formerly of Oklahoma and Colorado AgrAbility and now Assistant Professor at the Colorado Mesa University This curriculum has also been updated by our current instructor Dr. Christine Hutchinson, PT, DPT.Activity 1.a.2: Provide learning opportunities and fieldwork rotations for students entering or advancing in rural health care professions.Activity 1.b.1:Provide opportunities for educators, agribusiness leaders, women, Veterans, ethnic/racial and/or linguistic minorities and youth involved in agriculture to learn more about the AgrAbility program, disability and health conditions impacting Nebraska farmers and ranchers, assistive technology devices and tools, accident prevention/farm safety and demonstrated solutions for farmers and ranchers with disabilities which help them to remain actively involved in production agriculture.Activity 1.c.1:Develop a training module to provide to entities that are involved in providingActivity 1.c.2:Update and disseminate the Nebraska AgrAbility Veteran-Farmer Resource GuideActivity 1.d.1: Develop, identify and disseminate educational materials about common dangers on the farm, conditions most often experienced by farmers/ranchers and preventative measures that can be implemented to avoid secondary injury. Methods could include fact sheets, online resources or targeted social media posts. Topics may include but are not limited to skin care/cancer, hydration, caregiver support, mental health rapid response, TBI and concentration, drug/alcohol use, sleep deprivation and fatigue impacts, nutrition, Parkinson's, MS, back injury, arthritis, lung hygiene, hearing loss and prevention, preventative care, health and wellness, diabetes, stroke prevention, proper seating and ATV/UTV safety.Activity 1.d.2:Use a variety of techniques to deliver safe behavior and Nebraska law information to audiences. This will include ATV/UTV awareness sessions that are customized programs and presentations to target those who use ATVs for agricultural purposes, individuals who are influential in children's activities, and all youth. Programs will utilize the ATV simulator and a variety of proven methods for teaching, based on the audience.Activity 1.e.1:Update and implement an evaluation tool for educational efforts. Determine 3 powerful questions to ask about any educational efforts. The participants will be given the opportunity to answer and comment on these questions.Program Area - NetworkingActivity 2.a.1:Strengthen the network of Nebraska AgrAbility peer support volunteers who have been or will be trained and managed to provide confident and competent volunteers to support farmers and ranchers with disabilities.Activity 2.b.1:Engage with the Nebraska AgrAbility Advisory Council of 16-24 individuals interested in promoting the success of farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related limitations.Activity 2.c.1:Work with state, financial, agricultural, and governmental organizations to serve special populations, including veterans returning to the state in agricultural production.Activity 2.d.1:Staff will work with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED) to appraise the economic value of services rendered to AgrAbility and its clients.Program Area - Direct AssistanceActivity 3.a.1:Provide on-site farm assessments and assistance to Nebraska farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related limitations, including education about prevention of secondary injuries.Activity 3.a.2:Provide AgrAbility clients with technical assistance at their farm or ranch to determine appropriate assistive technology options, to promote safe and productive working practices and to secure funding, if needed.Activity 3.b.1: AgrAbility staff will attend the annual National AgrAbility Training Workshop, RESNAActivity 3.c.1:Determine the changes needed to the Nebraska AgrAbility evaluation tool to continue to evaluate the successes of the program.Program Area - MarketingActivity 4.a.1:Develop and disseminate marketing and promotionmessagingto reflect 25+ years of serving farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related limitations in Nebraska.Activity 4.a.2:Update marketing materials (printed, billboards, radio, tv) to reflect 25+ years of serving farmers and ranchers with health conditions and disabilities in Nebraska. Submit press releases to statewide media.Activity 4.a.3:Market the project through events where large numbers of farm families participate to promote AgrAbility and its services and disseminate materials to potential clients, families, caregivers, referral sources, (influencers).Activity 4.a.4: Engage Peer Support and Nebraska AgrAbility Advisory Council members to disseminate promotional resources about NE AgrAbility services throughout the state.Activity 4.a.5: Promote, educate, and provide resources through social media and our project web site. Increase accessibility to AgrAbility resources through a variety of options.Activity 4.b.1:Evaluate the impact of the marketing plan used to promote AgrAbility in Nebraska.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience: The primary audience for the NE AgrAbilty project is farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Important secondary target audiences are individuals who help identify members of the primary audience, and individuals who provide assistance to members of the primary audience, including health care professionals, funding resources, vendors of assistive technology and equipment, and others. Consumers who promote safety and healthy lifestyles are a tertiary audience. Changes/Problems:Jada Ruff is now a Co-PI. Soni Cochran and Ashley Ahrens are other project staff. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Staff taught at UNMC's Ag Health and Safety Course in July 2023. Staff gave a presentation on Stress to the Nebraska Cattleman's Group. Fourteen workshops statewide "Communicating with Farmers Under Stress" for ag professionals Stress session for Ag- Ceptional Women's Conference and Women in Ag Conference Sleep Deprivation session for Women in Ag conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? An updated SRAP marketing brochure was distributed at various locations across the state as we promote AgrAbility. Referrals have come directly from news articles in local papers and state sources,TV and other media sources, as well as information requests for programming.Brochures placed with networking partners have brought a number of referrals to the project. The team is exploring radio spots and billboards for continued dissemination of information. Nebraska AgrAbility Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages continue to grow and be successful. A format has been developed for use with OT professional rotations and week-long fieldwork, including a new program with Nebraska Methodist College.They now work alongside the Easterseals team. Agribusinesses firms from across the state were contacted for quotes and supplied AT to AgrAbility clients. Promotional presentations have been given or booths promoting AgrAbility were available at the Husker Harvest Days, NRCS for Disability Awareness Month, Nebraska Community Foundation, FFA Career Pathways Conference, York Ag Expo, Advisory Board Meeting, Beginning Farmer/Rancher Group, ATP ReUse Group, Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association, Triumph of Ag, and State FFA Convention, reaching over 5,000 participants. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Activity 1.a.1:Offer a comprehensive one day continuing education training titled "Rehabilitating Nebraska's Farmers and Ranchers" targeting health care professionals, especially OT/PTs, nurses and physicians serving rural Nebraska. Activity 1.a.2: Provide learning opportunities and fieldwork rotations for students entering or advancing in rural health care professions. Activity 1.b.1: Provide opportunities for educators, agribusiness leaders, women, Veterans, ethnic/racial and/or linguistic minorities and youth involved in agriculture to learn more about the AgrAbility program, disability and health conditions impacting Nebraska farmers and ranchers, Activity 1.c.1: Develop a training module to provide to entities that are involved in providing rehabilitation supports and return to work services for rural Nebraskans with disabilities. Activity 1.c.2:Update and disseminate the Nebraska AgrAbility Veteran-Farmer Resource Guide Activity 1.d.1: Develop, identify and disseminate educational materials about common dangers on the farm, conditions most often experienced by farmers/ranchers and preventative measures that can be implemented to avoid secondary injury.Activity 1.d.2:Use a variety of techniques to deliver safe behavior and Nebraska law information to audiences. Activity 1.e.1:Update and implement an evaluation tool for educational efforts. Determine 3 powerful questions to ask about any educational efforts. The participants will be given the opportunity to answer and comment on these questions. Activity 2.a.1: Strengthen the network of Nebraska AgrAbility peer support volunteers who have been or will be trained and managed to provide confident and competent volunteers to support farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Activity 2.b.1: Engage with the Nebraska AgrAbility Advisory Council of 16-24 individuals interested in promoting the success of farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related limitations. ? Activity 2.c.1: Work with state, financial, agricultural, and governmental organizations to serve special populations, including veterans returning to the state in agricultural production. Activity 2.d.1: Staff will work with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED) to appraise the economic value of services rendered to AgrAbility and its clients. Activity 3.a.1:Provide on-site farm assessments and assistance to Nebraska farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related limitations, including education about prevention of secondary injuries. Activity 3.a.2:Provide AgrAbility clients with technical assistance at their farm or ranch to determine appropriate assistive technology options, to promote safe and productive working practices and to secure funding, if needed. Activity 3.b.1: AgrAbility staff will attend the annual National AgrAbility Training Workshop, RESNA Conference and other relevant workshops and training. Activity 3.c.1: Determine the changes needed to the Nebraska AgrAbility evaluation tool to continue to evaluate the successes of the program. Activity 4.a.1:Develop and disseminate marketing and promotionmessagingto reflect 25+ years of serving farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related limitations in Nebraska. Activity 4.a.2:Update marketing materials (printed, billboards, radio, tv) to reflect 25+ years of serving farmers and ranchers with health conditions and disabilities in Nebraska. Submit press releases to statewide media. Activity 4.a.3:Market the project through events where large numbers of farm families participate to promote AgrAbility and its services and disseminate materials to potential clients, families, caregivers, referral sources, (influencers). Activity 4.a.4: Engage Peer Support and Nebraska AgrAbility Advisory Council members to disseminate promotional resources about NE AgrAbility services throughout the state. Activity 4.a.5: Promote, educate, and provide resources through social media and our project web site. Increase accessibility to AgrAbility resources through a variety of options. Activity 4.b.1:Evaluate the impact of the marketing plan used to promote AgrAbility in Nebraska.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Total number of client contacts for the period where some degree of service was rendered 25. We were also able to obtain state funding for Assistive Technology for our clients. The State of Nebraska has committed $600,000 over a two years (2022-2023) and now for two more (2024-2025) to purchase AT for our clients. Non-funding impacts: Our AgrAbility loaner trailer has been loaned out to several clients when requested. AgrAbility arranged for the relocation of additional donated equipment to other Nebraska AgrAbility client.

Publications

  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: https://agrability.unl.edu


Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience: The primary audience for the NE AgrAbilty project is farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Important secondary target audiences are individuals who help identify members of the primary audience, and individuals who provide assistance to members of the primary audience, including health care professionals, funding resources, vendors of assistive technology and equipment, and others. Consumers who promote safety and healthy lifestyles are a tertiary audience. ? Changes/Problems:Soni Cochran has replaced Susan Harris on the project team. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Staff taught virtually at UNMC's Ag Health and Safety Course in July 2023. Staff gave a presentation on Stress to the Nebraska Cattleman's Group. Fourteen workshops statewide "Communicating with Farmers Under Stress" for ag professionals Stress session for Ag- Ceptional Women's Conference and Women in Ag Conference Sleep Deprivation session for Women in Ag conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? An updated SRAP marketing brochure was distributed at various locations across the state as we promote AgrAbility. Referrals have come directly from news articles in local papers and state sources,TV and other media sources, as well as information requests for programming.Brochures placed with networking partners have brought a number of referrals to the project. The team is exploring radio spots and billboards for continued dissemination of information. Nebraska AgrAbility Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages continue to grow and be successful. A format has been developed for use with OT professional rotations and week-long fieldwork, including a new program with Nebraska Methodist College.They now work alongside the Easterseals team. Agribusinesses firms from across the state were contacted for quotes and supplied AT to AgrAbility clients. Promotional presentations have been given or booths promoting AgrAbility were available at the Husker Harvest Days, NRCS for Disability Awareness Month, Nebraska Community Foundation, FFA Career Pathways Conference, York Ag Expo, Advisory Board Meeting, Beginning Farmer/Rancher Group, ATP ReUse Group, Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association, Triumph of Ag, and State FFA Convention, reaching over 5,000 participants. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Activity 1.a.1: Offer a comprehensive one day continuing education training titled "Rehabilitating Nebraska's Farmers and Ranchers" targeting health care professionals, especially OT/PTs, nurses and physicians serving rural Nebraska. Activity 1.a.2: Provide learning opportunities and fieldwork rotations for students entering or advancing in rural health care professions. Activity 1.b.1: Provide opportunities for educators, agribusiness leaders, women, Veterans, ethnic/racial and/or linguistic minorities and youth involved in agriculture to learn more about the AgrAbility program, disability and health conditions impacting Nebraska farmers and ranchers, Activity 1.c.1: Develop a training module to provide to entities that are involved in providing rehabilitation supports and return to work services for rural Nebraskans with disabilities. Activity 1.c.2: Update and disseminate the Nebraska AgrAbility Veteran-Farmer Resource Guide Activity 1.d.1: Develop, identify and disseminate educational materials about common dangers on the farm, conditions most often experienced by farmers/ranchers and preventative measures that can be implemented to avoid secondary injury. Activity 1.d.2: Use a variety of techniques to deliver safe behavior and Nebraska law information to audiences. Activity 1.e.1: Update and implement an evaluation tool for educational efforts. Determine 3 powerful questions to ask about any educational efforts. The participants will be given the opportunity to answer and comment on these questions. Activity 2.a.1: Strengthen the network of Nebraska AgrAbility peer support volunteers who have been or will be trained and managed to provide confident and competent volunteers to support farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Activity 2.b.1: Engage with the Nebraska AgrAbility Advisory Council of 16-24 individuals interested in promoting the success of farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related limitations. Activity 2.c.1: Work with state, financial, agricultural, and governmental organizations to serve special populations, including veterans returning to the state in agricultural production. Activity 2.d.1: Staff will work with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED) to appraise the economic value of services rendered to AgrAbility and its clients. Activity 3.a.1: Provide on-site farm assessments and assistance to Nebraska farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related limitations, including education about prevention of secondary injuries. Activity 3.a.2: Provide AgrAbility clients with technical assistance at their farm or ranch to determine appropriate assistive technology options, to promote safe and productive working practices and to secure funding, if needed. Activity 3.b.1: AgrAbility staff will attend the annual National AgrAbility Training Workshop, RESNA Conference and other relevant workshops and training. Activity 3.c.1: Determine the changes needed to the Nebraska AgrAbility evaluation tool to continue to evaluate the successes of the program. Activity 4.a.1: Develop and disseminate marketing and promotion messaging to reflect 25+ years of serving farmers and ranchers with disabilities and health-related limitations in Nebraska. Activity 4.a.2: Update marketing materials (printed, billboards, radio, tv) to reflect 25+ years of serving farmers and ranchers with health conditions and disabilities in Nebraska. Submit press releases to statewide media. Activity 4.a.3: Market the project through events where large numbers of farm families participate to promote AgrAbility and its services and disseminate materials to potential clients, families, caregivers, referral sources, (influencers). Activity 4.a.4: Engage Peer Support and Nebraska AgrAbility Advisory Council members to disseminate promotional resources about NE AgrAbility services throughout the state. Activity 4.a.5: Promote, educate, and provide resources through social media and our project web site. Increase accessibility to AgrAbility resources through a variety of options. Activity 4.b.1: Evaluate the impact of the marketing plan used to promote AgrAbility in Nebraska.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Total number of client contacts for the period where some degree of service was rendered 27. We were also able to obtain state funding for Assistive Technology for our clients. The State of Nebraska has committed $600,000 over a two years (2022-2023) and now for two more (2024-2025) to purchase AT for our clients. Non-funding impacts: Our AgrAbility loaner trailer has been loaned out to several clients when requested. AgrAbility arranged for the relocation of additional donated equipment to other Nebraska AgrAbility client. ?

Publications

  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: https://agrability.unl.edu