Farm Week In Minnesota Shines A Light On Farm Safety

This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is reminding farmers to work safely and it’s also informing the non-farming public there are a lot more dangers to farmers than just not getting the needed rain for their crops to grow. 

Farming is a way of life that is not for everyone, partly because of the financial requirements and the commitment it takes to sacrifice everything else in your life to be able to deal with the many surprises that pop up regularly and that creates hardships. 

On top of those facts, the Department of Agriculture says that Farming is one the most dangerous occupations to work in. They say that a farmer is 800 times more likely to be killed in a work-related accident than most other occupations.  

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The leading cause of deaths in farm-related accidents are tractor rollovers, which is why the Ag Department is reminding farmers to make sure they have the safety equipment they need to either prevent or at least have a chance at reducing injury if an accident occurs. 

Tractor accidents aren’t the only dangerous situations that are found around a farm; manure pits, grain bins and silos, handling livestock and using other equipment also presents dangers to farmers as do the gases, chemicals and pesticides they handle.  

The Department of Agriculture offers many links to organizations that can help farm owners with compliance, funding, and guidance for all the challenges that they face.  

The focus is on farm safety this week for farmers, but for those of us who are dependent on them to do their jobs and provide for us, make sure you take any opportunity you can to say “Thank You” to farmers who help provide for us and our families. Where would we be without them?