COLUMBIA — This week marks the 80th National Farm Safety and Health Week. The agriculture industry has one of the country’s highest fatal injury rates, but Missouri agriculturalists have safety tips.
In 2022, the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry had a rate of 18.6 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalents compared to 3.7 for all U.S. industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To recognize Safety Week, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association hosted its annual safety day on Thursday in Columbia to educate high school Future Farmers of America members about how to safely interact with firearms, electrical equipment, tractors and cattle. A few Missouri FFA officers shared their safety tips for the public.
In Missouri, three tractor-related fatalities and four roadway agriculture-related fatalities occurred last year.
“Even if you don’t live on a farm, chances are you’re going to encounter that situation, so being able to know what to do – pulling over, slowing down, being safe on the road is a big thing because a large-scale accident has potential to happen,” said Andi Belt, the Missouri state president for Future Farmers of America. “It’s one [issue] that we encounter a lot during harvest season especially.”
Belt is a freshman at the University of Missouri studying agriculture education. She grew up on a sheep farm in northeastern Missouri.
As it is not as “convenient” for large machine operators to pull over, Belt said other drivers should exercise patience and refrain from passing to avoid unsafe encounters with farmers.
When at stop signs on country roads with tall crops, slow down before pulling out into the intersection.
“It’s important once you get to the end of the gravel road or you get to the end of a road where you’re pulling out, to always be careful,” said Carmen Wilburn. “Take that extra little bit of time to make sure you’re looking both ways and make sure that something’s not coming at you.”
Wilburn is the state FFA vice president, also a freshman at MU studying agriculture education.
Belt says integrating farm safety education early in life is vital to solidifying the lessons. Wilburn recommends teaching children how to be safe at different levels, including through attending programs hosted by organizations such as the FFA, MU Extension and industry organizations like the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.
“The best method for sure would be a mix of parents educating, schools, FFA chapters, anyone out there who has any knowledge on the safety that you could use on the farm or just around farm machinery,” said Wilburn.
Aside from safety on the roads, people should also be conscious around livestock — especially at fall events, like corn mazes, that might take place on working farms. Erin Drake, a member of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine mule team, said the emphasis should be on slow and cautious movements around animals.
“I’ve definitely had interactions with kids who want to run up and immediately pet [the mules] and swarm them, and it’s an instance of fear for them,” Drake said. “A lot of times when we’re teaching people to give treats and whatnot, they want to have their fingers wide out and spread out. You always want to keep a closed, cupped hand.”
Belt, Wilburn and Drake all suggested referring to the practices of a farmer when visiting their property. They say remaining aware and alert in all situations associated with agriculture is an advisable practice.
Although chapter visits are still being organized as the school year gets underway, Belt and Wilburn have already attended an internal officer meeting with Can-Am, an ATV brand. There, they learned about how to best approach off-road vehicle use — and they plan to bring those lessons into future chapter visits with high schools.
