by Denny Banister
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While National Farm Safety Week is recognized during the final full week of September to coincide with the normal peak of fall harvest activity, harvest is not the most dangerous season of the year for farmers. That dubious honor belongs to spring planting season.
During spring planting, many accidents occur as a result of farmers being in a hurry. Anxious farmers want to get back in their fields after a long winter season and plant their crops as early as possible. Spring rains cause frequent delays in planting which can lead to reduced yields. As a result, farmers work long hours at a rapid pace, which sets the stage for accident and injury.
During fall harvest, many accidents occur when farmers attempt to clear jammed equipment without first turning off machinery, a very preventable occurrence. Whether picking corn or harvesting soybeans, machinery occasionally jams, and many farmers are so used to clearing the obstruction they don’ take necessary precautions. Why turn the combine off, which just takes extra time? Why indeed!
Another major source of injury is old equipment. Faulty equipment often leads farmers to take shortcuts. For example, if an old tractor repeatedly needs repair, protective covers or panels must be removed to make those repairs. After removing the panel several times, farmers wonder why they need to continually replace the protective device. Again, why indeed!
Many older tractors are not equipped with a ROP, a bar providing roll-over protection. A ROP on a tractor is vital for much of Missouri’s hilly farmland. Farmers pressed for money may not be able to afford properly equipped new tractors, and may wonder why they should invest money on a ROP for an old tractor. Yet again, why indeed?
Farming is one of the most dangerous of occupations and whether most farm accidents occur during the spring or fall is not important. What is important is stopping preventable accidents. The bad news is the vast majority of farm accidents leading to injury and deaths are preventable. The good news is the very same thing – the vast majority of farm accidents leading to injury and death are preventable. It is up to farmers whether this is a good news or bad news story.
(Editor’s note: Denny Banister, of Jefferson City, is the assistant director of public affairs for the Missouri Farm Bureau, the state’ largest farm organization.)