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It's harvest time and farmers already are dealing with the effects of record high diesel prices this fall as they try to get their crops in for the season.
That's an added strain during an already high-stress time of year for what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls one of the most hazardous industries in the United States.
This is National Farm Safety and Health Week, dedicated to understanding potential on-farm hazards and the measures needed to mitigate those risks, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development states in a news release. To ensure the success of individual farming operations and Michigan's agricultural industry as a whole, safety must always remain a priority for everyone, according to MDARD.
"Michigan's farmers are fundamental to our state's agricultural landscape," MDARD Director Tim Boring said in the release. "Every injury, incident, or other unwanted circumstance can easily affect the entirety of a farm's operations, leading to broader impacts on the families, communities, and businesses they serve. Making safety routine can help to protect not only a farm's long-term sustainability but also the integrity of the populations and networks they support."
The heavy equipment, storage facilities, chemicals, and large animals that are potentially on a premises all hold their own unique degree of risk. By taking steps to prioritize safety, accidents can be avoided and farms can continue to run smoothly, MDARD states.
The third week of September has been recognized annually as National Farm Safety and Health Week, led by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. This year, they are hosting a free webinar series -- listed at https://www.necasag.org/nationalfarmsafetyandhealthweek/ -- that each day this week focuses on a different topic, including equipment and roadway safety, confined spaces, and overall health and wellness. Any of these sessions can help to build additional awareness and understanding of key issues facing farmers today. The same site also has videos on a wide variety of farm safety topics.
This week also serves as an opportunity to think about safety more broadly across Michigan's rural communities. Every farm operation is different. The risks and resources on a farm will vary widely depending on the operation's size, the crops and/or animals they specialize in, and the inherent geography of a property. It is important for community leadership and/or local responders to reach out to agricultural operations and discuss response planning to ensure there are adequate resources available, MDARD states.
If there is a need for specialized equipment or training to handle the livestock located within a community, the Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock program could provide some options. The ERAIL program is a comprehensive training and response program spearheaded by Michigan State University Extension in partnership with MDARD and with additional support from other industry groups.
The program trains responders in critical aspects of farm animal behavior and the characteristics of livestock trucks as well as promotes the acquisition of specialized response trailers stocked with portable gates, handling equipment for various types of animals, safety equipment, and other tools to help with livestock in any type of incident. Having these tools and the knowledge to use them appropriately helps to ensure animal safety as well as public safety during an incident.
Safety is everyone's responsibility, MDARD stressed. Being proactive and readily taking steps to build awareness and implementation of safety measures will improve a farm's ability to successfully navigate an emergency or, hopefully, prevent those emergencies from ever occurring.
For more information about agricultural safety and preparedness, go to MDARD's Ag Emergency website at https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/emergency.