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Farming Safely into Fall
By: Christine Luelf | 09/23/2011
There's a chill in the air, and the days are getting shorter... a sure sign autumn is upon us.
Though every season has a certain beauty about it, the sights, sounds and smells of fall tend to draw people outdoors and out to the countryside more than any other. Whether it's leaf peeping, or enjoying an old-fashioned drive, at this time of year people head to the country to enjoy the beauty of a world at least temporarily golden.
As you head outdoors and down two-lane, and in some cases, gravel roads, you'll see our nation's farmers hard at work on combines, tractors and semi-trucks doing their best to feed, clothe and fuel us all. It's a hard job, sometimes thankless, and it's a dangerous job.
September 19 - 23, 2011 is National Farm Safety Week
This year's theme for Farm Safety week is "Safety Counts, Your Community Depends on It," a theme that speaks to both the importance of farm safety and impact of farm injury. Consider the following statistics from the National Center for Agricultural Safety:
- 551 Agricultural Workers are killed annually
- 88,000 suffer lost-time injuries
A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report places farming and ranching in the top five to six jobs with the most workplace injuries, confirming its status as one of the most dangerous occupations. Simply put, everyone involved in agriculture knows someone who has been injured or worse.
Growing up in a small farming community and spending my career dedicated to agriculture has certainly kept this issue close to heart. I have dear friends, both men and women, who have suffered life-changing injuries while simply doing their jobs. In none of these cases did the injury dampen the individual's spirit or lessen their commitment to agriculture. America's farmers truly are amazing and resilient people.
Enjoy this season and all the beauty it offers, and while you're outdoors driving through the countryside peeping at leaves or perhaps picking apples or pumpkins, be conscious of those who are working and caring for our land. Be patient, be courteous and be grateful for the beauty of change and for those individuals who put food on our tables.
Posted in Agriculture and Nutrition
comments
Jessica Hartman says:
Fri, September 23, 2011 at 3:49:pm
Having grown up on a farm, I can’t say I’m too surprised by the fact that 551 people working in agriculture die each year. The danger involved doesn’t seem to get nearly enough attention. In fact, my own father continues to be dramatically impacted every day by an injury incurred while vaccinating cattle. Farming is a tough and risky job.
Ashlyn Brewer says:
Fri, September 23, 2011 at 1:42:pm
Thanks for sharing a post to celebrate National Farm Safety Week, Chris! It’s amazing to learn what a big risk farmers take to provide us with our dinner.