Farming doesn’t stop in the winter: animals still need to be fed, chores completed, fences repaired. Here are some reminders for farmers who are working out in the cold, adapted from a winter hiking tip sheet. 1. Dress like an onion. You know it — dress in layers. Wait 10 minutes and the weather is […]
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By Ellen S. Gibson, Maine AgrAbility I have arthritis in my hands, which I discovered soon after I started to milk goats. The repetitive motion of milking twice a day causes my joints to swell and that makes my hands painful. A strong handshake is agonizing. When the milk is heaviest after the goats kid, […]
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At the 2012 Maine Farm Days in Clinton, the Maine AgrAbility staff asked visitors to take a short survey about their boots and backs. Almost half of the full time farmers reported experiencing constant or weekly pain. Occasional pain was experienced by over 50% of all the respondents. The largest contributor to pain was heavy […]
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You’ve probably seen athletes stretching before a game. They do that to avoid injuries. Farmers and gardeners can injure themselves if their body is not quite ready for physical work. Here is a handy fact sheet from Arkansas AgrAbility (PDF) that shows stretching techniques for before, during and after the work day to avoid strains and […]
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Mediation Services for the Agricultural Community “Our trained mediators can facilitate disputes involving adverse USDA decisions, farm loans, environmental or forestry issues, insurance or disaster relief, contracts with food processors, neighbors, labor issues, wetland determinations, and more.” (www.voanne.org)
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“Beware Silo Gas and Avoid Silo Filler’s Disease” — Article courtesy of Vermont Farm Safe.
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By Ellen Gibson, AgrAbility Specialist Farmers inMainework hard, with all kinds of machinery, with all kinds of animals, and in all kinds of weather. This is part of the allure of farming, but it can take its toll on a person’s health over time. Farmers are prone to injury because they work hard physically. They […]
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By Tina Voigt, Maine AgrAbility Coordinator How often do you think of masks and respirators? In farming, there are many situations when using a mask or respirator is essential to protect your lungs and your overall health. Respiratory hazards might involve: Dusts (which can cause or irritate Organic Dust Toxicity Syndrome, Farmer’s Lung Disease, Bronchitis, […]
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See the article written by UW Extension: Farm Family Meetings: A Communication Tool for Multi-Family Operations
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See what the University of Maine Cooperative Extension is doing for Farm Safety A Farm First Aid Kit is more than just a small kit you pick up from the store; it’s more than a few bandaids to cover a minor cut. A Farm First Aid Kit needs more than the basics, because there is more […]
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