Farm Safety And Health Week

It’s National Farm Safety and Health Week in the U.S. As an ag radio network we often run public service announcements on farm safety during spring planting and fall harvest times; reminding farmers to make sure equipment is in good repair, to wear protective clothing when working with and around agricultural chemicals, and to make sure all their workers are up to speed on farm safety protocol. But farm safety should be a number one priority all year long. Just as many accidents can happen in the dead of winter caring for livestock, fencing, and farm buildings as they do during peak planting and harvest times. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over the last few years there has been a decrease in overall farm injuries, but there has been an increase in the number of “non-working” children being injured - children that are merely bystanders not engaged in actual farm work. Working farms are a wonderful place for children to grow up, but common sense measures need to be in place at all times - that way they’ll be able to share those treasured memories of being a farm kid with their children and grandchildren.