Nebraska

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) held its annual meeting this week in Reno, Nevada, with team members Bill Booker and Ron Yoder attending.  Dr. Ronald Yoder, Department Head, UNL Biological Systems Engineering and Nebraska AgrAbility PI, was elected ASABE president and also named a fellow.

Bill Booker, UNL Extension Educator and co-manager of Nebraska AgrAbility, presented a paper at the meeting featuring NE AgrAbility client, Eric Beckman.  The paper, Using Assistive Devices for Quadriplegia Farming, concluded that :

• Emerging technologies grouped together to allow a quadriplegic to farm an entire season (planting too)
• Emerging technologies will allow more farmers with disabilities back into production agriculture.
• Strong personal resolve and family support cannot be underestimated.

Submitted by: Sharry Nielsen