Vermont

The Vermont Medical Center recently contacted Vermont AgrAbility for help with a 54-year-old veteran that was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. He is a hobby farmer and puts up his own firewood. The problem he is having is with his New Holland tractor and not being able to raise his arm high enough to work the control on his tractor bucket. A site investigation revealed that he had tried to add an attachment to the control lever which did not work. He was very depressed and felt useless.

After much discussion and reviewing the AgrAbility toolbox, it was decided that adding a joystick controller to the tractor at a lower level might work. Through his tractor dealer, a hydraulic company in Littleton, New Hampshire, was found that could make the necessary changes to the hydraulic system. Arrangements were made for the tractor to be taken there and measurements made to lower the controls to the seat height. All are hoping this will give him another year of being able to operate his tractor, and give him a purpose to continue his farm. The attached pictures are of the addition that he made that didn't work, and suggestions of control modifications and level of the joystick.

Submitted by Tom Younkman