A publication of the AgrAbility In Dakota project.
P.O. Box 1206, Mandan, ND 58554 (701) 663-6828 ext 303 or 1-800-247-0698 ext 303
esgwnd@btigate.com - www.ext.nodak.edu/agrability
Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and Their Families
Winter 1999-2000 -- Volume 2, Number 4
With winter upon us, it is important to have all of your vehicles winterized for an emergency. The following is a checklist that will help you safely prepare your motor vehicle for winter travel. It will help you select the equipment you may need to survive being stranded in your vehicle in a winter storm. Have a safe trip!
Did you:
Does your vehicle have:
Do you have these items in your survival kit?
You should have along:
The National Grant Program of the AgrAbility Project is a joint effort of The USDA Extension Service, The National Easter Seal Society and Purdue University's Breaking New Ground Resource Center. Support for this newsletter is provided by the USDA Extension Service; Project #92-EFDA-1-10013.
President Clinton signed the Agriculture Appropriation Bill into law on October 22, 1999. This bill provides a $1 million increase for the national and state-level AgrAbility projects. Many thanks to those legislators that continue to support the AgrAbility projects across the country.
In North Dakota, the increase in funding will be used to expand program services.
Each year, there are farmers across the country who are affected by a disability or health condition. AgrAbility projects continue to provide farm families with information about assistive technology for farm operations through on-site farm visits and peer support networks. This exciting project helps farm families maintain their independence and goal of continuing in agricultural production.
Many farmers and ranchers have cattle in pastures and feed lots and must often pass in and out of the lots through gates. When driving a vehicle, they must leave the vehicle, open the gate, drive through the gate, leave the vehicle, close the gate and then get back into the vehicle. This is a long involved process for someone with mobility impairment such as a spinal cord injury or lower extremity amputation.
To address this problem, gate opening and closing devices have been developed to help farmers and ranchers with lower extremity impairments. One of these devices is the Ecklund Drive Through Gate. It is a single-arm, adjustable length, electrified gate that allows entry and exit without dismounting from the vehicle. It is insulated from the post when properly installed using the two lag bolts and the special insulator bushings supplied.
The gate does not scratch vehicles or get caught in tractor lugs, because as the gate is bumped, it "pops" open and the vehicle is able to pass through before the gate swings shut. The gate moves faster away from the vehicle than the vehicle is driving through. After swinging shut, a latching mechanism holds the gate and resists wind forces, until a vehicle bumps the gate. Ecklund offers a 10% discount to farmers with disabilities.
Giveaway
Wanted
National AgrAbility Convention -- Madison, Wisconsin -- October 5-8
NDSU Extension Service Fall Convention -- October 19-20
Farm City Social -- Mandan -- November 18
Regional Ag Trade Show -- Rugby -- November 17-18
Hettinger Crop Show -- Hettinger -- December 16
Tom Alexander, Co-Director
AgrAbility In Dakota
P.O. Box 1801, Minot, ND 58702
Bus. (701) 839-4121 Fax (701) 838-5998
Cell (701) 720-4276 Res. (701) 852-3471
Email: alextom@minot.com
Trina Gress, Co-Director
AgrAbility In Dakota
P.O. Box 1206, Mandan, ND 58554
Bus. (701) 663-6828 ext. 303 Fax (701) 663-6859
Toll Free Nationwide 1-800-247-0698 ext. 303
Cell (701) 220-4272 Res. (701) 221-2649
Email: esgwnd@btigate.com
George Maher, Ag Safety Specialist
NDSU Extension Service
Box 5626, Ag Engineering 115
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5626
(701) 231-8288 FAX (701) 231-1008
Email: gmaher@ndsuext.nodak.edu
The National Grant Program of the AgrAbility Project is a joint effort of The USDA Extension Service, The National Easter Seal Society and Purdue University's Breaking New Ground Resource Center. Support for this newsletter is provided by the USDA Extension Service; Project #92-EFDA-1-10013.
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