Program focuses on ag safety and awareness

March 7-13, 2010 has been designated as Agriculture Safety Awareness week with the theme of "Growing our Most Important Crop." The 2010 theme was selected with the goal of making our farms and ranches a safer place for all children around the farm.

Farm Bureau, who heads the Agriculture Safety Awareness Program, has selected three focuses for this year: tractor passengers, livestock, and stored grains.

It may be tradition to ride along with dads and grandpas on tractors, but tractors are made for one person. Same goes for ATVs and lawn mowers, an hour or two spend apart is well worth the chance of losing a loved one.

Nearly half of the 100 fatal farm accidents occurring every year in the United States involving those under 15 years of age also involve a tractor.

Farm pets which are gentle can often mislead youth and adults into trusting farm livestock. Livestock are different from pets in that they require a great deal more caution because of their disposition, unpredictability, and size. The lack of experience around livestock can easily endanger someone who is not familiar with livestock instincts.

As adults we realize the dangers of flowing grain and climbing on bins, but to a child who has not been told differently, these may look like jungle gyms.

Education and supervision of our youth can help us continue in "Growing our Most Important Crop" -- the next generation of America's farmers. Please join me and Farm Bureau in this important role.

TRACTOR SAFETY

If you are planning to do farm work, and it is for someone other than a parent or guardian, and you are 14 or 15 years of age, you must take a tractor safety course following the U.S. Department of Labor requirements before you can be employed at certain hazardous farm tasks. This includes operating a tractor over 20 horsepower.

On Wednesday, March 31, K-State Research and Extension in Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Crawford, Franklin, Linn, Miami, Woodson, and Neosho Counties will offer a Tractor Safety Training Course in Iola at the Courthouse Assembly Room. The course will begin at 5 p.m. and should conclude at 8:30 p.m. Cost is $6 per student to cover the safety manual and supplies.

Transportation may be arranged through the Bourbon County Extension Office. The registration deadline is Friday, March 26.

Editor's Note: Delta George is a K-State Research and Extension agriculture and 4-H extension agent assigned to Bourbon County. She may be reached at (620) 223-3720.