His Farm Tools Help The Physically Challenged

His Farm Tools Help The Physically Challenged MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Handicapped Equipment 33-6-33 Ned Stoller's knees bothered him after repeatedly climbing on and off his 4-wheeler taking soil samples. Fortunately, the agricultural engineer is in the business of researching and building equipment designed to give the human body a break. He designed a handle that clamps on his soil probe that allows him to sit on his ATV, take a sample and drop it in a bucket on the front rack. "I've used it for five years and sampled 50,000 acres with it," Stoller says. "It has a long handle to hang on to it like a spear and you jab it in the ground with both hands. There's a step on it, so I can stomp on it if it's really hard soil. It's got a bicycle handle on top to help jerk it back out." The step is adjustable and doubles as a depth gauge. Set it at the depth you want to take soil samples. Stoller makes and sells the Sampling Probe Handle for $85 from Lowell, Mich., through his business, Foresight Services, LLC. He also makes the StaFast Quick Hitch that allows tractor operators to hook up wagons without getting out of their seat. One new project is a simple platform that makes it easier to get into a skid loader. It's made of grain bin stairs, expanded steel decking and angle iron reinforcement. Angle iron rails on the underside rest on the skid loader blade for solid footing and the whole platform can be lifted and moved with the skid loader. The platform is helpful for farmers with arthritis, joint replacements and other disabilities. Stoller doesn't make them, but tells people how they can build them in their own shops for about $400. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Foresight Services, LLC, 12152 Cascade Rd., Lowell, Mich. 49331 (616 897-0479; www.farmeasier.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.