Safety should be part of ag tradition

May 15, 2008 11:09 am

— A grim statistic came out of Purdue University this week.
Last year, 24 people died in farm-related mishaps in Indiana. That compares to eight deaths in 2006, and marks an upswing after several years of decline.
According to the findings, 2007 had the most deaths since 2000, when 27 people perished in agricultural accidents. Citing the report, The Associated Press noted that the most common killers were crushing and pinning by machinery and tractor-related mishaps.

Given the number of people involved in agriculture in Indiana, 24 is a statistically small number. It is still 24 too many, and the death toll is a stark reminder that agriculture can be a perilous business.
What to do? Be careful.
Much of the day-to-day ag work in Indiana takes place outside the scope of official oversight. This is both good and bad. And anyone who’s ever been involved in farming knows —or should — that hazards abound.

Hay wagons, chemicals, grain bins, tractors and farm implements come with risks. Inattention, hurry and sleepiness ratchet up the potential for trouble.
Indiana’s non-farming population has a role to play, too. Farm machinery on the road in the spring and fall is often irritating to other motorists. Drivers should temper that irritation by considering what they ate for dinner. In other words, be patient and share the road.
Indiana has a long agricultural tradition. Let’s make safety part of that tradition.