I asked my 8-year-old daughter this question. She listed jobs such as firefighters who run into burning buildings or police officers who fight crime. I agreed with her wholeheartedly. They were definitely dangerous elements to each of those occupations. Then I asked her if she thought farming was a dangerous job. She looked at me funny and told me, “no way.” I’m sure many people think this as well. When we think of farms or farmers, we picture cows being milked, fields being planted, and sunrises over the barnyard. Danger isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but, according to Forbes “10 Most Dangerous U.S. Careers Heading Into 2025,” agriculture and forestry are number one on the list. This sector ranked as the most dangerous, with a fatal injury rate of 18.6 per 100,000 workers and 417 fatalities nationwide.

Farmers are serious about safety, especially on the road, where an estimated 15,000 farm vehicles are involved in highway crashes every year, according to the National Safety Council.

Dave Tolan, of Risky Endeavor Dairy in Ossineke, stresses the importance of maintenance and checks on his farm.

“Every year, we have our on-road equipment DOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) checked to make sure they are road safe,” Tolan said. “Before going on the road, we are checking to make sure all the headlights and flashers are working. We check tire pressures and inspect them to ensure they are road safe. All of our tractors and implements have the orange and red slow-moving vehicle signs, as well. We want to be visible to motorist.”

Courtesy Photo Bryanna Beyer’s father-in-law, Paul Beyer, checks the top of the grain bin as it is being filled with dry corn.

What can motorists do to help out farmers? It seems the resounding answer is to slow down for equipment and watch for flashers and lights.

“Last year, we had more close calls than we’ve ever had, with people passing us as we were making a left turn. Even when the blinkers are on, people seem to be in a hurry,” said Jason Timm, of Chuck Timm Farms.

Be sure to only pass when there is a yellow dotted line and give plenty of space between you and the farm operator so you can be visible to them.

Another safety concern is grain bin entrapment. Many farms have large, usually silver, bins that hold large quantities of dried grain. They are a valuable tool for feeding animals and storing crops, but can pose danger to the farmer. Grain handling in bins can become routine and, when a worker is in a hurry, an accident can happen. Sadly, year after year, people who enter grain bins are trapped and engulfed in grain, resulting in suffocation. A person should tell someone before working in or around bins and have them present in case an emergency happens.

Huron Shores County Farm Bureau, which encompasses Alpena, Alcona, and Montmorency counties, is planning to help purchase equipment and provide a grain bin rescue training event this year for firefighters in the surrounding counties to learn how to use the specialized equipment to rescue farmers in case of bin emergencies. Firefighters rescue a person from a grain bin using grain rescue tubes. The tube is lowered into the grain surrounding the victim to enable grain removal from their immediate surroundings without continuing grain collapse. The person is then able to be lifted out and taken to safety. Having this equipment available to operators in the area could mean one more life saved on the farm.

Courtesy Photo Dave Tolan of Risky Endeavor Dairy gets ready to head out on the road in his farm truck after a safety check.

Safety should also be followed on the farmstead. Simple steps such as well-lit work areas and proper use of tools could prevent injury. Farmers should dress warmly in cold weather to protect from frostbite and drink lots of water to prevent heat stroke in the peak of summer. On farms with livestock, it’s important to keep gates secured and be aware of your surroundings. Even the nicest animal can cause accidental injury if spooked.

Extra care should be given when children are on the farm. Know where they are and teach them safety rules.

“A big thing to teach kids is that the farm PTOs, tractor power take offs, are dangerous and to stay away from them at all times,” Timm said.

The PTO transfers power from the engine to the attachment implements and spins a shaft at 540 to 1,000 rpms. If you get too close while they are in operation, they can become entangled in your clothes, hair, or hands, and result in serious injury.

When visiting a farm, a good rule of thumb is to ask the owner if they have safety rules for you to follow, such as staying away from active farm vehicles or livestock that may not be friendly.

Bryanna Beyer

Farm safety is more than a set of guidelines, it’s a commitment to protecting lives and livelihoods. By embracing these practices, we ensure that farming remains a safe, sustainable endeavor for generations to come.

Bryanna Beyer is a local farmer with a passion for educating others about agriculture. She and her husband Collin operate Beyer Farms in Alpena. To reach her, email beyer_farms@outlook.com. These agricultural columns written by local farmers appear on the Lifestyles page each Monday.