Growing up on a farm has many benefits for children, but farms can also be dangerous. Across the country, over 30 children are seriously injured in agriculture-related incidents every day, and a child is fatally injured on the farm once every three days. Take an active role to keep children safe on the farm by educating them about the risks, thoroughly training them for age-appropriate tasks, providing personal protective equipment, and maintaining adequate supervision. [Read more…]
September 20, 2022 Kate Brown
Youth on the Farm: Protect the Future of Agriculture
June 10, 2021 Kate Brown
Be Proactive, Keep Youth Safe on the Farm
How often do you say this: “do as I say, not as I do”?
The farm can be a fun, engaging, and nostalgic place to raise children; however, life on the farm comes with inherent risks that require certain precautions to make the farm a safe place for kids. The curious nature of children makes this especially difficult, as they often exhibit a lack of fear or a clear understanding of danger. According to the Children’s Safety Network, 42% of fatal injuries to youth on U.S. farms involve machinery and motor vehicles (e.g. tractors, ATVs, etc.) while another 16% of fatal injuries are due to drowning. As the school year comes to a close and your own children and grandchildren spend more time on the farm, use your actions and attitude to establish safety as a priority.
In addition to being a positive role model, make time to identify hazards around the farm and implement changes to improve safety. We have included some of these hazardous “hot spots” in the table below, along with recommendations for injury prevention.
| Hazards for Children | Recommendations to Prevent Injury |
| Workshops, chemical and grain storage areas | Install gates, doors, or other locking systems to keep children out
Explain the meaning of warning signs around the farm Clean and dispose of empty chemical containers Establish designated safe play areas |
| Machinery and equipment | Equipment should be turned off, disengaged, and inaccessible
Leave front end loaders and similar equipment in the down position Lock vehicle cabs after use Keep vehicle keys out of reach of children Never allow children to play around machinery Never allow children (or anyone) to be an extra rider on a tractor |
| Livestock Pens | Only allow children to work with livestock under adult supervision
Secure livestock pens so children cannot wander into the area |
If you’re looking for fun ways to talk with children about farm safety, check out this farm safety activity book created by the National Child Safety Council. The book includes games, puzzles, crafts, and more on a wide array of topics from livestock and tractor safety to first aid.
For more details on age-specific hazards, protective measures, and appropriate tasks for youth check out our NJAES factsheet titled “Farm Safety Tips for Children”.
Source: Brennan, M.F. and Brumfield, R.B. “FS937: Farm Safety Tips for Children.” Rutgers University, March 1999. https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=FS937. Accessed on 10 June 2021.
September 17, 2020 Kate Brown
Every Farmer Counts! 76th National Farm Safety & Health Week – Sept. 20-26, 2020.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Ag and Natural Resources Dept Chair Nick Polanin has announced the good news that RCE has been able to hire Ms. Kate Brown as Program Associate II to work on commercial crop production in the RCE-Burlington County office. We welcome Kate to the job. In continuing some of the programs of retired County Agent Ray Samulis, Kate is now the Rutgers liaison to the NE Ag Safety and Health Coalition and has shared this news about next week’s celebration of National Farm Safety & Health Week (NFSHW). — Rick VanVranken [Read more…]
