National AgrAbility Project

Last minute reminders...

• Make sure you have registered for the conference
• Make sure your hotel room is booked
• Plan some fun around the conference! Check out www.visitportland.com for ideas.
• It isn't too late to ship or pack an auction item. Ask your local retailers, craftspeople, relatives ... they are all treasures at the NTW Auction.
• Get your state's raffle basket ready. We had a great showing from our SRAPs at last year's event, and everyone enjoyed taking the chance to win.
• If you would like to ship items in advance of the event, Lani Carlson of Maine AgrAbility has agreed to receive them. Ship to: Maine AgrAbility - University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 138 Pleasant Street #1, Farmington, ME 04938
  

Contact us anytime: Tess McKeel - tmckeel@goodwillfingerlakes.org - 585.447.9015 or JoBeth Rath - jbrath@goodwillfingerlakes.org 585.402.2059

Submitted by JoBeth Rath

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has released the 2018 Request for Applications (RFA) for the AgrAbility competitive grant program. 

Applications are due April, 30 2018.
To view Funding Opportunity Announcement:

https://nifa.usda.gov/announcement/usdas-national-institute-food-and-agriculture-announces-support-farmers-disabilities

To view NIFA Funding Opportunity Page for AgrAbilty:

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/agrability-assistive-technology-program-farmers-disabilities

To view the AgrAbility grant opportunity in Grants.gov:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=301082   

NIFA will host a Webinar for interested applicants on March 15th (Thursday), 2018, at 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm EST.  The webinar will focus on general guidelines for the program and on the 2018 application process. 

Webinar connection details:
https://nifa-usda.webex.com/nifa-usda/j.php?MTID=m41db8295d3b01e2f4e951cd5690e8135
Teleconference: 1-888-844-9904
Access Code: 48 96 371
Host Password:  804 85 77

The NAP participated in the North American Agricultural Safety Summit sponsored by the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA) on February 21-23 in Scottsdale, AZ. Paul Jones participated on a panel that addressed building support for farm safety. Other AgrAbilty staff members attending the summit included Bob Aherin of Illinois, Aaron Yoder and Susan Harris-Broomfield of Nebraska, and Sara Wat of California.

Submitted by Paul Jones

The National AgrAbility Project had a display at the 2018 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 14-17, 2018. The display included AgrAbility brochures, AgrAbility publications, health and safety brochures, a Life Essentials John Deere tractor with lift, and an Action Track Stander power wheelchair. AgrAbility staff, consultants, and volunteers staffed the display and answered questions from attendees from across the nation.

Submitted by Steve Swain