Serving the Needs of Nebraska's Farm and Ranch Families Affected by Disabilities.

Since 1995 Nebraska AgrAbility has helped individuals with disabilities overcome barriers to continue in their chosen agricultural profession. The program collaborates with community professionals to:

• Modify farm and ranch operations
• Adapt equipment
• Increase farmstead accessibility
• Provide financial counseling
• Identify funding sources
• Coordinate community services.

The National AgrAbility Project and its state programs are supported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through a competitive grant process.

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Grant Award helps Veterans return Home to Farm and Ranch

While some veterans returning home have jobs waiting for them, many do not and they are returning to rural areas where jobs can be scarce. The USDA Risk Management Agency has awarded the Center for Rural Affairs, Farmer-Veteran Coalition, Nebraska AgrAbility Project, and eight additional partner organizations with funding intended to introduce new veteran farmers and ranchers to various areas of agriculture, and thereby find solutions to the employment and economic challenges facing so many rural veterans.

The free workshops in Nebraska will be held:

Thursday, 9:00 - 4:00, March 22nd at ARDC near Mead
Friday, 9:00 - 4:00, March 23rd at NCTA in Curtis

For details about the workshops, contact Sharry Nielsen, UNL Extension and AgrAbility Project. The project will include farm tours of sustainable grain, vegetable, and livestock operations later in the year, as well as presentations on organic certification, production techniques and marketing.

“The long-term goal for this project is to help new veteran farmers and ranchers successfully establish farms and ranches in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Missouri,” said Kathie Starkweather with the Center for Rural Affairs. According to Starkweather, the project will allow veterans to learn strategies and implement plans for farm/ranch start-up, including financing, land access, and business development. Veterans will also learn to access the resources available to them for technical assistance, production and marketing information, and mentoring.

The Center for Rural Affairs and its partner organizations will hold educational workshops in Nebraska and Kansas to provide information and introduce resources on specialty crops, livestock, land access, financing, crop insurance, production & marketing high value crops, and resources for beginners, veterans, and the disabled.

Schedule and more details in the brochure. (Free Adobe Acrobat required to view.)

New! National AgrAbility YouTube Channel.

Watch hope in action.

AgrAbility: It's About Hope! The USDA-sponsored AgrAbility Program serves farm families touched by disability. A disabling injury, illness, or lifelong disability can challenge anyone's hope, especially when the individual has been engaged in the physically demanding occupation of agricultural production. AgrAbility's mission -- for the last 20 years and into the future -- is to enhance and protect quality of life and preserve livelihoods, and support and promote growth and independence. (This will open in a new window.)