The following is a press release from the Montana Farm Bureau Federation:
Across the country, Farm Bureaus are making safety a top priority this spring through the Agricultural Safety Awareness Program (ASAP). As a part of ASAP, March 6-12 has been designated as Agricultural Awareness Week.
This year’s theme, “Growing the Most Important Crop,” emphasizes making farms and ranches safer for farmers, their family members and employees with special emphasis on children. People of all ages, but particularly children, are at risk of injuries on the farm. Educating adults about reducing risks to the children in their care is critical to preventing farm and ranch incidents and fatalities.
In the past year, at least four ATV agriculture-related deaths have occurred in the state of Montana; two of the victims being teenagers. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, 100 children die in farm accidents every year in the U.S. and many others are injured, often seriously.
Montana Farm Bureau’s Always Be Careful (ABC) on the Farm School Safety Program educates second and fifth grade students on farm safety. The program covers a wide variety of situations, from the dangers of taking an extra rider on a tractor to not playing near grain bins. They also strongly advocate ATV safety, including youth riding a properly sized machine and wearing safety helmets, boots and gloves. The program lets kids know that livestock can be unpredictable, especially those with young, and that ag chemicals need to be locked away.
During Ag Safety Awareness Week and throughout the year, Montana Farm Bureau focuses on making farms and ranches safer for farmers, their family members and employees.
The annual Ag Safety Awareness Week also recognizes the rich tradition of our farming and ranching culture in producing the safest and most abundant food in the world.
Source: MT Farm Bureau Federation
Posted by Haylie Shipp
