While National Farm Safety and Health Week is winding down this weekend, it aims to teach safe practices that should be kept in mind year-round.
The annual safety week officially closed yesterday (September 27th) with this year’s theme being Safety First, Avoid the Worst.
Manitowoc County’s Agricultural Educator Angie Ulness spoke with Seehafernews.com about why farm safety isn’t something that should be recognized for just seven days out of the year.
Ulness explained, “These are practices that agriculturists should be practicing all year-round. Just remember to check lights, signals, and slow-moving vehicle signs on road-driven machinery.”
She also provided additional insight on what area farmers used this week to accomplish with safety on their minds.
“To conduct some maintenance, identify any areas that could be fire hazards, slippery surfaces, or missing safety guards,” she said. “Then train all equipment operators. Especially anyone that’s new to your operation or the youngsters that might not have as much experience on that equipment.”
Ulness also told us that these safety tips are even more important as corn silage ramps up, along with the harvesting of soy beans and manure hauling.
With that in mind, she also noted that this focus on safety is not just for farmers but for all motorists on Wisconsin roads.
“This is also a safety reminder for all of the public,” urged Ulness. “Make notice that there’s going to be some extra vehicles on the road. Please don’t pass in no passing zones, follow at a good distance, and really be mindful that everyone wants to get home safely to their families.”
More information on National Farm Safety and Health Week can be found online by visiting necasag.org.
