Harvest Safety
Harvest time on the farm involves a lot of heavy equipment and machinery that can pose a risk to you or those around you. Follow these basic tips to ensure you use your farm's machinery safely and responsibly.
- Wear hearing and eye protection around running machinery
- Wear dust-filtering masks
- Wear chemical respirators, gloves and mask if handling chemicals
- Ventilate silo headspace at least 30 minutes before entering to remove gas concentrations
- Disengage the power take-off shaft before getting off a tractor
- Never step across a rotating power shaft
- Never wear loose fitting clothes around moving parts
- Use wheelblocks to prevent roll-away accidents
- Closely supervise children in work areas
Fence Safety
Taking the time to construct a well-built fence can prevent your livestock from wandering off your property and into harm's way. Here are some tips for building a safe and strong fence for your farm property.
- Fence should contain three to five wires
- Top wire should be at least four feet from the ground
- Bottom wire should be at least 18 inches off the ground
- Center wires should be evenly spaced between the top and bottom wire
- All wires should be tight and securely fastened to fence posts
- Posts should be about 12 feet apart
- Posts should be anchored at least two-and-a-half feet in the ground and stand at least four feet above ground

Fire Safety
- Keep your machine shed clean
- Store chemicals in sealed containers
- Dispose of oily rags
- Clear shrubbery and debris away from your machine shed and outbuildings
- Store hay away from outbuildings
- Don’t allow smoking in or near your machine shed
- Don’t park vehicles over combustible materials
- Make sure your electrical systems are safe and up to code
- Keep electric motors around your farm free of dust
- Make your property easily accessible to emergency vehicles
- Create and practice a fire emergency plan with your family
- Leave fire extinguishers at strategic locations around your property
Slow Moving Vehicle Safety

Rural Road Safety
- Don't rush
- Pass with care
- Watch for Slow Moving Vehicles (SMVs)
- Yield to wide vehicles if necessary
- Remain visible when driving behind large vehicles
- Mark the edges of your large vehicle or equipment with reflector tape
- Install mirrors on equipment if necessary to increase visibility