Across the country, Farm Bureaus are making safety a top priority this spring through the Agricultural Safety Awareness Program. As a part of ASAP, March 7-13 has been designated as Agricultural Safety 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 keeping children safe.

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. That’s why during Ag Safety Awareness Week and throughout the year, state Farm Bureaus are focused on making farms and ranches safer for farmers, their family members and employees.

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.

“Parents and grandparents on farms and ranches need to set a good example for children,” notes Monica Switzer, Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) Health and Safety Committee chair. “One of the ways is not taking extra riders on a tractor or four-wheeler. It just takes a split second to fall under the tires of a tractor, or a shift of weight from an extra rider to tip a four-wheeler.”

Switzer also points out that although it’s fun to see calves, lambs and other young animals, often the mother of a young animal may be overly protective of her young, so keep alert when in the vicinity of livestock.

Another rule: don’t play in the grain. Grain piles and bins are not acceptable places for children to play. It takes just a few seconds for a person to be pulled down and under a flowing mass of grain,

which can quickly lead to suffocation. Another good way to keep kids safe: lock up any farm-use chemicals.

“It’s wonderful to have friends and family on the farm, but make sure safety rules are explained and followed,” say Switzer. She explains that Montana Farm Bureau’s Health and Safety Committee often presents “Always Be Careful on the Farm” School Safety program to second and fifth graders, as well as at farm fairs, which teaches farm safety in a fun way.

“The best thing to do is always keep safety in mind whether you’re out there working on your own or have kids with you,” concludes Switzer.