Maine AgrAbility Awarded Grant to Assist Farmers with Disabilities, MPBN Reports
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network reported the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the Maine AgrAbility Project a $701,828 grant to continue assisting farmers, loggers and fishermen with disabilities and chronic illnesses so they may remain active in production agriculture. AgrAbility is a nonprofit partnership between University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England and Alpha One. Lani Carlson, Maine AgrAbility Project coordinator, said the program provides assessments, advice and aid to farmers where a simple injury or arthritis can mean lost productivity, or even retirement. “Agriculture is so important, and it’s important that we keep our farmers working, both for our communities and economy, but for their own livelihood,” Carlson said.