Farm Safety

A coalition of farm and ranch parents and agricultural organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, has released a set of guidelines to help parents and others in assigning appropriate tasks for youth who live or work on farms and ranches.

Hurricanes often make more headlines during the summer and fall, but the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety cautions homeowners to not underestimate the destructive and deadly force of thunderstorms.

One of the most important symbols on U.S. rural roads turns 53 years old this year. The red-and-orange triangular slow-moving vehicle emblem adorns the rear of thousands of pieces of farm equipment in Virginia; yet every year there are collisions between automobiles and tractors.

Farmers who are getting ready to cut and bale hay should make a habit of checking equipment before heading out to the field.

With temperatures soaring into the 90s or higher, heat-related illnesses become a serious occupational hazard for farmers and others who work outdoors.

Farm equipment is sometimes wider than rural roads, and it’s built for power, not speed. With planting season in full swing across Virginia, motorists should watch for triangular orange emblems on the back of farm equipment.

When the weather turns cold, some farmers and homeowners spend more time in unheated barns and workshops. To keep warm, many turn to wood-burning stoves or space heaters.

It’s part of the job: Raising food on a farm sometimes entails moving tractors and other equipment on the road.