Fulton County contains 405 square miles (259,480 acres) of land and is home to 42,700 citizens[1]. There are 183 industries in the county[2], with the median household earning an income of $51,850[1]. Major employers include businesses in the sectors of wood furniture manufacturing, state and local governments, food services, and wholesale trade businesses[2].
Ethanol produced from biomass, such as corn grain or sugar cane, is a renewable fuel that helps lessen dependence on petroleum-based fossil fuels. Currently, the majority of ethanol production in the United States utilizes corn grain, which supplied about 14 billion gallons of ethanol to the market in 2012. In the near future, corn supplies for ethanol are expected to be limited due to concerns that corn grown for fuel limits or competes with corn grown for feed and food.
The Northern bobwhite is a popular upland game bird found throughout the eastern United States. Bobwhites are roughly the size of a softball and have cryptic coloration to hide from predators. Male and female bobwhites have facial masks and throat patches. On males, these are white; on females, they are buff-colored (Figure 1). Bobwhites are perhaps most recognizable by males whistling "bob-WHITE" during the breeding season.
Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are a non-native and invasive species that present significant threats to agricultural and natural resources (Figure 1). Feral swine were introduced as livestock to the continental United States in 1539. Estimates as of 2013 are that more than 5 million feral swine exist in at least 36 states, with the greatest concentration in southern and western states. Feral swine are well established in many midwestern states, including Ohio (Figure 2).
According to IRS Publication 502 and 529, individuals can deduct from their taxes, Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) incurred as a result of an individual's disability, either physical or mental, that limits their employment or significantly reduces one or more of life's major activities. These major activities include performing manual tasks, learning, walking, breathing, and working.
Farmers are at an elevated risk for developing a respiratory impairment because of certain hazardous work environments they may face. Respiratory impairment is a generic term that refers to a medical condition that affects the respiratory system. Limitations associated with respiratory impairment include labored breathing, asthma attacks, fatigue, heightened sensitivity to ordinary substances and chemicals, and compromised immunity to infection. Certain exposures increase a person's chances of developing a respiratory impairment or irritating a pre-existing condition.
Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that destroys thinking skills and memory, which can reduce the ability to carry out even the simplest task. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among older adults. Dementia is commonly known as a loss of cognitive functioning including thinking, reasoning and remembering. This loss of function can have an extreme impact on a person's daily life, and can progress over a long period of time.
The physical nature of agricultural tasks takes a tremendous amount of wear and tear on the body, and joints take the majority of the punishment. The joints are commonly used when we move about and perform our daily activities. Many of the problems related to stressed joints can be reduced with the use of braces. Braces help support the joint and promote proper function and movement, preventing further damage to the site. Sprains, muscle strain, joint dislocation, tendon tears, or nerve damage can be aided with the help of braces.
Back pain is common among farmers because of the physical nature of the occupation. Farmers are required to do heavy lifting and a tremendous amount of walking, and utilize pushing/pulling to complete tasks. Back injuries can be chronic or short term. Once a back injury has occurred special consideration needs to be given to the spine, muscles and tendons to prevent a reoccurring injury. Common injuries to the back occur to the muscles, tendons or spinal column.
A painful, stiff hip or knee can keep a farmer from being productive on the farm. Even simple tasks such as daily chores or walking from one location to another can be painful and delayed. When all attempts to alleviate the pain have been exhausted, a physician may recommend a total joint replacement. Approximately 150,000 total hip replacements and 90,000 total knee replacements are performed annually to relieve pain and increase mobility.
