36 Low Tech
Not every solution requires new gadgets or a big investment. Many injury prevention and comfort-improving strategies come from creative, affordable ideas using what’s already on the farm or ranch. Think in terms of simple fixes with big impact—like adding foam padding to a shovel handle, using a garden cart instead of lifting heavy feed buckets, a calf sled to transport a new angus calf, or raising a workbench to reduce bending. Often, the best tools are already in your barn or garage.
For more ideas on adaptable equipment, visit the National AgrAbility website—they offer great examples of tools and modifications that can reduce strain and keep you working safely. The assistive technology database is a great resource that farmers and ranchers can use to find tools tailored to their daily occupations.
This is a printable PDF handout that displays just some of the low-tech options of adaptive equipment.
AgrAbility. (2025). Home. AgrAbility. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from http://www.agrability.org/
AgrAbility. (2025). Resources. AgrAbility. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://agrability.unl.edu/resources/