Protect what matters most: Making farm safety a habit

You never think it’ll happen to you. Not on your farm. Not with your family.

But the numbers don’t lie. Every three days in the United States, a child dies in an ag-related incident.

Every single day, 33 more are seriously injured. And here’s the part that really hits home — over 60% of those children weren’t even working.

They were just there. In the environment. On the farm.

It’s not hard to understand why. Kids are fearless. They see a combine and think it’s a jungle gym.

An open gate looks like an adventure. And during harvest, when we’re tired, rushed and juggling more than we can carry, accidents can happen in an instant.

And not just with kids. Agriculture remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.

The fatal injury rate for farm workers in 2023 was nearly six times the national average. More than 21,000 injuries led to time off work between 2021 and 2022 alone.

So, what do we do? We start with the basics. Make sure someone on your farm knows CPR and first aid.

Keep kits and fire extinguishers handy. Post emergency numbers. Set up designated kid-safe zones.

And, maybe most importantly, always know where your children are. If they’re old enough, start teaching them about farm safety now, not later.

And let’s talk about you, too. The one running on caffeine and adrenaline. You can’t keep anyone safe if you’re running on empty.

Fatigue leads to mistakes. Take breaks. Eat something real. Hydrate. Walk. Breathe. You’ll be sharper — and safer — for it.

The leading causes of fatal farm accidents involving children? Machinery, at 25%; motor vehicles and ATVs, 17%; and drowning, 13%.

These aren’t just numbers. They’re someone’s child, grandchild, sibling. These are preventable tragedies.

And speaking of machinery, don’t cut corners. Accidents that happen during the use of power take-off devices, rollovers, entanglements — they don’t give second chances.

Take the extra minute to walk around your equipment. Check guards, lights, hydraulics.

Turn it off before stepping off. Those few seconds could save your life, or someone else’s.

This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week, but let’s be honest — every week should be.

Whether it’s checking a PTO shield, wearing a respirator in the grain bin, or grabbing earplugs before climbing into the cab, it’s the little things that make a big difference.

And if you’re ever in doubt? Slow down. Re-check. Ask for help.

Farming is rewarding. But it’s risky. Behind every operation is a family. A community. People who need you to come home at the end of the day.

So, this harvest season, let’s keep safety at the top of the list. Not after the yield, or the deadlines, or the to-do list. Because no bushel is worth a life.

Wishing you a safe, healthy and abundant harvest. And remember: nothing we grow is more valuable than the people who help grow it.