But what about health risks like excessive noise and sun exposure?

Health hazards are often overlooked risks in farming — and while quite different from the dangers posed by farm machinery, they require the same proactive attention and prevention strategies as other farm hazards.

“The success of a farm is dependent on a farmer’s well-being. There are a lot of health hazards that can affect a farmer’s health, whether that’s hearing, sun, respiratory, or ergonomic, and they are equally as important as other safety matters on the farm,” says Kendra Ulmer, manager and clinical director of the Agricultural Health and Safety Network at the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health.

“If your health is compromised, that can create more safety risks. You can’t separate health and safety in agriculture; they go hand in hand.”

Listen up

A notable health hazard around the farm is noise-induced hearing loss, which can occur at any age from prolonged exposure to loud noises or as a result of a sudden loud incident, such as being near a tractor tire that blows. And there is no shortage of loud noises on the farm from machinery, livestock, power tools, ventilation fans, and more.

In fact, farmers and farm workers experience one of the highest rates of noise-induced hearing loss among all occupations. What’s more, research has found that almost 50 per cent of farm youth show some signs of noise-induced hearing loss compared to non-farming youth. Signs of hearing loss can include favouring one ear over the other, difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, ringing or buzzing in the ears, frequently asking people to repeat what they said, and cranking the volume up high on the TV or radio.

“The important thing to recognize about hearing is that once it’s gone, it’s gone. Hearing aids can help but they don’t replace your hearing,” explains Ulmer.

“Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and it is irreversible, but it is also 100 per cent preventable. That’s why it’s so important to protect the hearing of children and youth on the farm because the damage done when someone is young stays with them forever.”

In addition to potentially increasing incidents on the farm due to being unable to hear warning sounds, Ulmer notes that hearing loss can also affect a person’s overall health, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, digestive issues, stress, and trouble sleeping.

“For farmers with identified hearing loss, we strongly encourage them to seek support because it does contribute to their quality of life,” says Ulmer. “When we can decrease the noise, we decrease our risk of hearing loss, safety mishaps, and other physical and psychological effects, which means we’re increasing our overall well-being.”

So how can farmers, farm workers, and farm families protect their hearing? Some key preventive measures include:

• Look at ways to eliminate or reduce exposure to loud noises.
• Find hearing protection that works for you. Ears are all shaped differently, so what works for one person may not work for someone else. Try on different types of hearing protection to find one that is comfortable and provides a proper fit.
• When selecting hearing protection, consider other equipment and clothing you will be wearing, such as hard hats or glasses.
• Keep hearing protection in different areas of the farm where it is needed.
• Follow this rule of thumb: If you need to raise your voice to be heard by someone three feet away, then you need to wear hearing protection.

Sun exposure a risk even in winter

Another health hazard for farmers and farm workers is sun exposure. But, just as with hearing loss, it is preventable.

“The sun is a major occupational hazard for anyone who works outdoors,” explains Ulmer.

“With the amount of time that Canadian farmers and other agricultural workers spend outside, they are in the highest risk category for sun exposure, which increases the risk of skin cancer.”

Research has found that outdoor workers have a 2.5 to 3.5 times greater risk of skin cancer compared to indoor workers. With more than 80,000 new cases of skin cancer — 5,000 of which are melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer — diagnosed in Canada every year, according to the Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation, prevention and early detection are crucial.

“Farmers and farm families need to make sun safety a part of their daily routine and include it as part of their safety practices because there are serious long-term health consequences to sun exposure,” Ulmer says, noting people should check their skin periodically for any new or changed moles.

While many are conscious of harmful UV rays on hot and sunny summer days, Ulmer says those aren’t the only times when people should take precautions, noting the UV index needs to be monitored year-round.

“People need to think about the impact of the sun’s rays even when it’s cloudy or in the middle of the winter when the sun reflects off the snow. Just as farmers check the forecast to see about rain, they need to check the UV index daily,” Ulmer says.

Ways to protect against sun exposure and heat-related illness on the farm include:

• Wear a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses, and pants if possible.
• A wide-brimmed hat offers more protection than a baseball cap, which doesn’t cover the ears or back of the neck.
• Use sunscreen and reapply it every two hours.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Take regular breaks in a cool or shaded area.
• Try to limit outside work during the peak of the day (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.).

While health hazards are ever-present on farms, they shouldn’t be ignored. Being proactive can make all the difference in protecting the well-being of everyone on the farm.

“Farmers and farm workers are always looking after the land, animals, and equipment, but it’s crucial for people to proactively look after their own health as well,” Ulmer says.

“There is a lot of talk about productivity, sustainability, and incorporating new technologies, but we still need a healthy farmer. Because there is no farming without the farmer.”

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And while efforts to rebuild and repair farms tend to take centre stage following a crisis, the mental health aspects of these events are often put on the back burner. However, the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing (CCAW) hopes to change that mindset with its Catastrophic Events Toolkits, available online.

“The agricultural industry does a really good job of showing up and making sure we’re doing what needs to be done to make sure a farm can be saved or rebuilt or otherwise intervening in another way that is appropriate,” explains Dr. Briana Hagen, CEO and lead scientist at CCAW.

“What we don’t do a great job of is making sure there are mental health supports in place or intervention or preventative services that can be included in that response.”

The toolkits contain insights and resources for those supporting farmers and farm families during an agricultural crisis and were developed from a research study asking farmers what they need in a crisis.

The intention of the toolkits, says Hagen, is to bridge the mental health gap in emergency preparedness for catastrophic events across the agricultural industry.

“We know that farmers are experiencing poor mental health outcomes compared to the general population in Canada. We know that agriculture has unique stressors and some of those stressors are around these catastrophic events, including extreme weather events that are happening more frequently, that can really ratchet up stress on a farm and for a farm family,” Hagen explains, adding that CCAW also recently launched the National Farmer Wellness Network crisis line to provide farmers with access to farm-tailored mental health support.

“There is always going to be something causing stress and challenges, so making sure we have these types of supports in place for farmers to seek appropriate care is key.”

In addition to a core component that outlines how to support farmers during an agricultural crisis, a unique aspect of the toolkits is information for crisis liaisons to know more about specific farming events. The toolkits, which are geared toward groups creating emergency preparedness programs or plans, currently highlight avian influenza, African swine fever, and porcine epidemic diarrhea. The toolkits are described as living templates that will evolve to include other agricultural threats and crises.

“The beauty of crisis liaison toolkits is that a group, whether it’s a commodity group or a community group, can identify who the best-suited person for that role might be in that area or in that crisis, and this type of training could be utilized to make sure that person is ready,” explains Hagen. “Who a crisis liaison is depends on who might be the right person in that moment. I think that’s one of the really great things about this approach because it can evolve based on who is available and what farmers need in that moment.”

The background information for crisis liaisons and other individuals or groups could make a tremendous difference in supporting farmers’ mental health during a crisis. As Hagen explains, for farmers to get on board with receiving support, they want the people helping them to understand the unique traits of agriculture.

“That is something that came through in our previous research time and time again. Having someone who has a baseline knowledge of agriculture is key in order to have farm credibility and for a farmer to trust them in those moments of need. Without that knowledge, it’s harder for them to be able to serve farmers.”

Hagen points out that the crux of ensuring farmers get the support they need when they need it comes down to being proactive as an industry, which is why awareness about emergency preparedness, including mental health, is crucial.

“I do think that there is a strong urgency for emergency preparedness in a lot of commodity groups right now. For example, with African swine fever, we know that there is a lot of preparation for what could happen if it hits. That is where a toolkit like this could be incorporated into an existing emergency preparedness plan and really be helpful,” Hagen says.

“That’s why we’re working with groups to make sure the toolkits can be moulded to fit their commodity or community, which is what is really unique and really important about these kits.”

After years of research on farmers’ mental well-being, Hagen says the overwhelmingly positive response to the toolkits is undoubtedly a testament to the work that has been done to build awareness around mental health and its importance in the agricultural industry. And that’s a trend Hagen hopes continues.

“What I really hope happens with these toolkits is that mental health doesn’t just become an interventional thought for groups and for farmers. I really hope that by implementing plans and a crisis liaison, we can have boots on the ground early. So that we aren’t responding to a mental health crisis – we’re preventing one.”

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In spite of calls for change over the last several decades, women continue to get the short end of the stick often when it comes to PPE, which can compromise their safety.

The research study Expanding Opportunities for Canadian Agriculture by Understanding the Experience of Farm Women, conducted by Farm Management Canada, which the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association contributed to, found safety equipment is a common challenge for women in agriculture, with 68 per cent of farm women struggling to find PPE that fits them. Thirty-nine per cent of farm women say safety apparel for women is more expensive than men’s.

Of course, women in agriculture are far from alone when it comes to challenges with PPE. The findings echo sentiments that women in various industries have voiced for decades.

According to the CSA Group report, Canadian Women’s Experiences with Personal Protective Equipment in the Workplace, despite evidence that poorly designed and ill-fitting PPE can potentially lead to serious workplace injuries or even death, “women continue to be differentially impacted by workplace hazards.”

“The evidence paints a very clear picture of the issue and that we really need to do something about it,” says Jennifer Teague, CSA Group vice-president for standards research and education.

“We need to be asking why has this gone on for so long, and why does it have to be so hard.”

The CSA Group report found that 50 per cent of women say their PPE does not fit properly, 43 per cent say it is uncomfortable, and 35 per cent say the availability of women-specific PPE is inadequate. Many women confirmed sustaining injuries as a result of their PPE, and when asked to what extent their PPE hampered them at work, 85 per cent of respondents reported being significantly hampered.

To make do, many women make DIY adjustments to their PPE, even using duct tape to shorten fall-arrest gear, which can lead to other safety risks.

“Women are often trying to fix one problem with PPE but potentially causing another,” explains Teague. “One of the important things to note is that if you’re altering certain PPE, like a harness, then you are voiding the certification of that equipment. So, by altering that PPE, you are compromising the integrity of it.”

While Teague says there are multiple reasons for the ongoing problem, one key contributing factor is many PPE manufacturers taking PPE for men and simply making it smaller, sometimes making it pink, and labelling it as PPE for women.

Hence, “pink it and shrink it.” However, since women are not merely scaled-down versions of men, this causes problems with fit and comfort.

Not helping matters is that, as the CSA Group report notes, Canada collects a limited amount of anthropometric data (information on body sizes and shapes), which creates an information gap for designers and manufacturers of PPE for women.

“Many manufacturers are essentially shrinking PPE to fit women, but women have very different bodies compared to men; we have breasts, our shoulders are generally narrower, and our hips are generally wider,” Teague says.

“Women want to be taken seriously and so shrinking PPE, making it pink and saying it’s for women is not the answer. When you want to be taken seriously and there are already things that make it difficult, then that overlarge pink PPE is just one other hurdle. If the PPE doesn’t fit right, it can affect their ability to do a task. It can be demoralizing for women.”

The lack of readily available, proper-fitting PPE for women will not be resolved overnight. So how can women find suitable PPE that’s comfortable without being altered? Ensuring PPE is tried on with other safety equipment and apparel to make sure they fit together, simulating tasks while trying on PPE to determine the fit, and asking other women in the same field where they purchase their PPE can all go a long way to help.

But it’s also important not to overlook the value of women advocating for more PPE specifically designed to fit them.

“We all have a role to play with this, and that includes government and manufacturers. Women workers can also advocate for PPE that fits and demonstrate why and how it doesn’t fit. Of course, they need a safe place to do this, so having employers that recognize the importance of this issue and support the worker is also important,” Teague explains.

“PPE is the last line of defence when it comes to workplace protection so it’s important that it fits well. Because if that fails, there’s nothing else to protect you.”

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In part, it means being proactive by keeping grain in good condition. A key reason people become trapped in grain is because the stored product has gone out-of-condition; keeping grain in good condition lessens the need to enter a grain bin. That’s especially critical for canola, which is particularly susceptible to spoilage in storage.

Andre Harpe is vice-chair of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) and a third-generation farmer with around 5,000 acres of canola, barley and grass seed northwest of Grande Prairie, Alta.

“When it comes to grain, you have to be very careful around it, and the safest way to do that is to stay out of it,” Harpe says. “Many of the injuries I know of have been the result of canola sweating and creating a crust at the top. So, it’s very important that canola, and all grain, is stored correctly and safely.”

“Being proactive and on top of things is the best bet, because, unfortunately, it’s pretty simple for canola to spoil,” says Breanna Miller Friesen, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada.

“The critical time to make sure grain is conditioned properly is in the initial post-harvest time. If canola goes into the bin with a higher moisture or if it’s quite warm, then we’re already increasing the chances of an issue later down the line.”

Since canola is sensitive to moisture, getting it down to eight per cent moisture and less than 15 C in temperature as soon as possible is key for safe long-term storage.

Of course, it’s not just the grain that farmers need to be mindful of in storage — dockage (grain dust, weed seeds, et cetera) and green canola can also have a significant impact as they tend to have more moisture than canola seeds.

“Ninety-nine per cent or more of seeds can be dried down and mature, but then there are those small pockets with high-moisture green seeds and that can cause spoilage,” Miller Friesen says.

Proper airflow is also essential for canola. As Miller Friesen explains, canola is a challenging crop for airflow because of its small size and round shape, which leaves fewer air pockets than other grains, and getting adequate air circulation can require more effort with larger storage facilities.

Once canola is in storage, it’s necessary to regularly monitor temperature and moisture levels. While monitoring is particularly crucial during the initial storage period to ensure the product is cooling down properly, Miller-Friesen stresses the importance of staying on top of monitoring year-round.

“Farmers can’t get complacent about monitoring their stored canola, particularly as the warmer weather comes in. Towards the end of winter, I know a lot of farmers are thinking about seeding and getting ready for the season ahead. But it’s important to still keep stored canola top of mind,” Miller Friesen says, noting cold snaps during the winter are an ideal time to run fans and move cool air around proactively.

“Considering how quickly a bin can spoil, a lot of farmers check their storage weekly or biweekly to stay ahead of things.”

On Harpe’s farm, monitoring stored grain is a regular occurrence, which he says makes it both easier and safer to detect issues early on.

“As soon as we see that something is happening to the canola, if it is starting to sweat or if it’s starting to get a bit warm, we pull it out of storage and move it or dry it,” he says.

In grain bins, heat rising in the centre and cooling off from the colder canola on the outside can lead to issues with moisture and spoilage. Crusted or heated seed at the top of a bin, typically in a cone shape, indicates that quick action is needed to prevent further spoilage.

“If out-of-condition canola is caught early enough, where some of it is just starting to spoil, it’s best to isolate and remove the spoiled canola as soon as possible and then get fans running and potentially move the remaining canola to another bin,” Miller Friesen says.

“The biggest thing is to catch out-of-condition canola before it impacts the entire bin. When a full bin is compromised, it is a very scary situation that hopefully few people ever have to experience.”

Proper practices pivotal

“My stance is that I want everyone to go home at night the same way they came to work, and the only way to do that is to try and keep things as safe as possible. Being proactive with good canola storage practices is a big part of that,” Harpe says. CCGA, Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds and the Manitoba Canola Growers Association have been supporters of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s BeGrainSafe program since it launched in 2017.

The return, he says, is far greater than just unspoiled canola.

“One of my employees likes working on my farm because of how we proactively address safety, and he has told me he feels safer on my farm. When you are proactive and work to keep things as safe as possible, it makes for a better working environment, which benefits the entire farm,” Harpe says.

Although some may have an “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” approach to certain farming practices, Harpe says it’s important for farmers to stay up to date on new techniques and consider the return on investment for technologies that can boost efficiency — such as with monitoring stored grain — and improve safety.

“There is always room for improvement on any farm. At the end of the day, a safe farm is a successful farm.”

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According to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting data, traffic collisions accounted for about five per cent of all agriculture-related fatalities from 2011 to 2020.

Here are some tips to help ensure everyone’s safety while on the road:

Motorists

• Tractors and other farm equipment travel significantly slower than typical traffic, meaning a motor vehicle driving at the speed limit can close the distance on farm machinery much faster than anticipated. Always reduce your speed when approaching any farm equipment.

• Keep in mind that spring seeding and fall harvest seasons are when more agricultural equipment is travelling on public roads, especially in rural areas.

• Always keep a distance behind farm machinery, which provides a better view to determine when it’s safe to pass and helps the equipment operator see you.

• Although it may be frustrating when behind a slow-moving vehicle, it’s important to only pass when it’s safe to do so.

• Be aware that some farm equipment is very wide and may take up more than one lane.

• Tractors and other farm vehicles often make wide left turns. If you see a tractor veer to the right, there is a good chance it is about to turn left — this is not a signal for motorists to pass!

Equipment operators

• Whenever possible, use side roads rather than highways due to the size and slower speeds of farm machinery. Take the time to plan your route before hitting the road.

• Ensure your equipment it outfitted with reflective materials and a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign that is in good condition and visible.

• Before going out on any road, check that all lights, beacons and turn signals are clean and working properly.

• Double-check that all loads are secure and that your equipment won’t leave debris on the road or send any projectiles toward motorists.

• Understand the width and height of your equipment and adjust mirrors accordingly. This will help ensure safe travel and clearance from potential obstacles such as road signs, overhead wires or bridges.

• When transporting oversized loads or operating on high-speed roadways, it’s best practice to use a pilot vehicle whenever possible. (Note: Some provinces have specific requirements regarding pilot vehicles, while others do not. Be sure to check your provincial highway traffic legislation to confirm requirements in your area.)

Remember: We all share the same public roads, which means we all have a role to play in making sure everyone gets home safely.

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Bill C-244, an amendment to the federal Copyright Act, allows Canadians access to vehicle, machinery and equipment data for diagnostics, maintenance and repairs. This change enables qualified individuals to conduct on-farm repairs, which provides cost savings related to equipment transfer to a dealership, labour, and operational downtime.

Of course, it’s crucial to remember the hazards linked to farm machinery, whether it’s during operation in the fields or while carrying out maintenance. According to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting data, between 2011 and 2020, 66 per cent of agriculture-related fatalities involved machinery, including rollovers, runovers, and entanglements.

Before undertaking any maintenance or repair, consider these essential safety points:

Competence

• Are you familiar with the machine or equipment?

• Do you have previous experience fixing it?

• Are you trained and do you have the correct tools and parts for the job?

Supervision

• Does the maintenance process require supervision to ensure the correct use of tools and parts?

• Is the owner’s manual being followed?

Owner’s manual

• Are you using the owner’s manual to learn what oil and filters are needed to change the oil, and when?

• Are you referring to it for all repairs and upkeep?

Inspections

• Do you have a daily checklist to inspect the equipment for damages, fluid leaks, burnt-out lights, and other necessary repairs? Remember: checklists serve as reminders of what to look for.

Record keeping

• Have you gathered service records for reference?

• Are the records up to date with details of on-farm repairs, maintenance, and recurring issues?

Stored energy

• Have you controlled stored energy, such as hydraulic fluid, electricity, and springs?

• Are you using a lockout system for stored hydraulic energy, like the red block on raised skid steer lift arms?

• Have you unplugged battery cables to release electrical energy, and released pressure in springs before starting repairs?

Professional help

• Do you know when it’s time to seek professional assistance? (Hint: It’s when you don’t know how to fix it, don’t have the right tools or parts, haven’t been trained, or if you haven’t done it before.)

Always consult your provincial Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation to understand specific maintenance and repair requirements for your equipment and machinery.

The post Repairing farm equipment safely appeared first on Grainews.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case for a grain entrapment on Feb. 9 in east-central Alberta.

Chris Krushel, fire chief for the Edgerton Emergency Services Department, says a man had entered a grain bin to clean it when he became caught in the grain. Thankfully, another person was present to assist with the work and the auger was shut off. By then, though, the male victim was trapped up to his waist and unable to move.

“The initial responding department, Irma Fire Rescue, did not have the necessary equipment or training. So, we were brought in for additional assistance because they heard that we had just received our grain bin rescue training [through the BeGrainSafe program],” explains Krushel, adding that assistance was also received from Wainwright Fire and Rescue and the fire department from CFB Wainwright.

After an assessment to ensure the male victim was alert and breathing, Krushel says they set up a grain rescue tube around him and used an auger to remove grain near the individual. The man was then able to self-extricate and get down from the bin.

“It was really surprising that he was able to get down under his own power. We weren’t expecting that but it was certainly positive to see,” says Krushel. “This was the first grain rescue we have been involved with, and it occurred right after we did the grain rescue training, so it was very fortunate that everything happened the way it did.”

While this particular grain rescue had a positive outcome, many do not. According to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting data, there were 27 fatalities due to asphyxiation from grain or soil on Canadian farms between 2011 and 2020.

Dan Marsellus is fire chief for Kneehill County in Alberta and a master trainer with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s (CASA) BeGrainSafe program. He says that the training offered to firefighters through the BeGrainSafe program, which launched in 2017 due to increased grain entrapment fatalities, is invaluable for saving lives.

“Grain entrapments are high-risk, low-probability events, so knowing how to respond to the situation is essential,” explains Marsellus, who conducted the Edgerton Emergency Services Department’s BeGrainSafe training.

Krushel agrees, noting that the training was extremely beneficial for responding to the February grain entrapment.

“Without the training we would not have had the understanding of what to do and we wouldn’t know how to properly use the grain rescue equipment,” Krushel explains. “The BeGrainSafe training has tested and tried rescue procedures and because of that we knew how to approach the situation and the outcome was fantastic.”

At the core of the BeGrainSafe firefighter grain rescue training is a trailer outfitted with a built-in silo that can hold 7,000 pounds of grain. Positioned above the silo is a platform with a davit arm that can safely lower a person into the grain. Once entrapped, rescue demonstrators use grain rescue tubes in combination with an auger to remove grain from around the individual until they can be safely extracted from the grain.

While the training experience can be intimidating at first, particularly for those who have never been around grain, Marsellus says it also leaves participants with a new perspective and awareness for the risks associated with grain.

“Anyone who goes in the grain is stabilized the entire time and safe, but their eyes get very big when the floor disappears beneath them and they get that sinking feeling. Then they are basically cemented in place and cannot move,” explains Marsellus. “The training highlights the reality and severity of these situations and it really grounds people.”

Krushel adds, “We are in a rural community, but a lot of our department’s members aren’t farmers so this training is a real eye-opener for all that is involved with grain entrapments. Because there are a lot of things included that you wouldn’t even think about until you do this training.”

One significant takeaway for many who participate in the BeGrainSafe training is the realization of how grain flows and that it acts like quicksand, quickly pulling a person down.

“People often think you can swim in grain but you can’t because there is no buoyancy factor in grain. Grain moves very quickly and it is startling how quickly a person can disappear; they can be pulled in under the grain before they even have a chance to say the word ‘stop,’” Marsellus says.

“The grain puts so much force on a person that once the grain is at their hip level, it will literally pull the person in half if we even attempt to pull them out. With that much force, if someone is buried, you want to be as quick as possible to get them out.”

Of course, training participants aren’t the only ones with misunderstandings about grain. That’s why the BeGrainSafe program is not only committed to raising awareness about the hazards of grain and the gravity of entrapments among first responders, but also the general public.

“The best way to save lives is for grain safety to be a proactive issue on farms rather than a reactive issue. The more awareness we have, the more we can hopefully make people realize the need to take grain safety seriously and have those important conversations,” Marsellus says. “Because the moment someone is gone under the grain, it’s irreversible.”

As the Feb. 9 rescue demonstrates, having the right knowledge and equipment to respond to these incidents can make a tremendous difference. With more awareness and training, we can hopefully lessen the occurrence of tragic outcomes.

“You may not need to use this training often, and hopefully you don’t,” says Marsellus. “But when responding to a grain entrapment event, it can make all the difference.”

More information about CASA’s BeGrainSafe program is available online.

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And a new study is highlighting that notion when it comes to mental in farm youth, revealing that children aren’t immune to stressors on the family farm

The study, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, explores how economic stressors affect the mental health of farmers and their adolescent children.

“Mental health with youth in agriculture is often overlooked. We have, rightfully so, put emphasis on the owner-operator who makes the decisions on the farm and has to sit with those decisions. But we haven’t looked at the impacts on the farm family,” Josie Rudolphi, an assistant professor and extension specialist at the University of Illinois and one of the study’s co-authors, explains.

“When families go through trauma, it’s usually not just one person who experiences trauma. It’s experienced by the family. So, when we think about tough economic situations, it’s being felt by everyone in the family. With farming, there are a lot of stressors that aren’t typical of most work arrangements and lines between home and work are often blurred.”

In the first two years of the five-year study, data has indicated a higher prevalence of symptoms for depression and anxiety in farm parents and youth compared to the general population. The study found that about 60 per cent of both adults and adolescents met the criteria for at least mild depression, while 55 per cent of adults and 45 per cent of adolescents met the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder.

“Those statistics are much higher than what we see in the general population. Even during COVID, we typically saw, among the general population, 28-35 per cent of people meeting the criteria for at least mild depression,” says Rudolphi. “So, we are seeing upwards of double those figures, which is very concerning.”

While the study looks at U.S. farmers and adolescents, Rudolphi notes the findings are consistent with other studies around the world. The Survey of Farmer Mental Health in Canada, undertaken between February and May 2021 and led by Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton at the University of Guelph, found that stress, anxiety, and depression were higher among farmers than the national average. The research also found that suicide ideation was twice as high among Canadian farmers compared to the general population.

Risk-taking behaviours

Of particular note in the new study’s findings is the correlation between how farm parents’ mental health and well-being affect that of their adolescent children.

“If a parent meets the criteria for depression, it’s almost guaranteed that the adolescent will as well,” Rudolphi explains. “We have to, of course, acknowledge that some of this is genetic. But what it really underscores is that youth are experiencing what their parents are experiencing; they are absorbing and internalizing their experiences.”

The study has also found a “very strong association” between mental health and risk-taking among farm youth, indicating that those who participated in more risk-taking behaviours were more likely to meet the criteria for at least mild symptoms of depression. That finding echoes a similar conclusion in the research “Health and Well-Being Among Youth People from Canadian Farms: Associations with a Culture of Risk-Taking,” which found risk behaviours to be high among farm adolescents and associated with various negative indicators of health and well-being.

“When we compare what we found to what the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has found in non-farm adolescents, we see a higher proportion of our sample participating in those risk-taking activities,” Rudolphi says.

One glimmer of promising news, she notes, is that today’s youth have a heightened awareness of and engagement in mental health conversations.

“There is still some stigma with mental health, in some populations especially, and I think rural and agricultural communities at one point were among the most stigmatizing. But we are starting to see that change,” she says. “Youth are really interested in talking about mental health. A lot of it has to do with generational changes. Millennials are more likely to talk about it than their parents, and Gen Z and beyond are growing up in environments with much more normalized conversations about mental health.”

Of course, capitalizing on that youth interest and engagement means providing adequate and accessible mental health resources and services. And, as the study’s findings underscore, there is a need for more mental health supports focusing on farm youth and farm families.

“Is it concerning that we see a high proportion of our sample meeting the criteria for depression? Yes. But what’s also concerning is the lack of adequate access to mental health care in rural communities,” Rudolphi says. “Because we know that these are treatable conditions; we have a spectrum of mental health and people are moving through it constantly. It’s very treatable and manageable, if you have the resources at your disposal.”

While there is no quick solution to address mental health and wellness among farm families, Rudolphi hopes the study brings more attention to the experiences of farm families, particularly youth. Though there are plenty of benefits to growing up on a farm, she notes, it’s also important to acknowledge and work to address the risks, which extend beyond physical well-being.

“If we’re going to encourage people to go into farming, if we’re going to encourage people to grow our food, then we need to make sure they’re taken care of from a physical and mental perspective,” she explains.

“These youth today are our next generation of farmers. If they aren’t safe and healthy, then we don’t have our future farmers and ranchers.”

Links to mental health resources, information and supports in your area are available online.

Kids FarmSafe Week is a new public awareness campaign hosted by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association with the aim of promoting the safety and wellness of children and youth on Canadian farms. For its inaugural year, the campaign took place May 13-19, presented by BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions.

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It was April 1994, and Kemery, who was four years old, was playing on a parked tractor-driven rototiller that was still running on her family’s grain farm near Major, Sask. Her parents were standing not too far away. When the machine shook itself into gear, Kemery suddenly fell backward into the blades.

The incident resulted in critical injuries across Kemery’s body, which required numerous surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, and left her with lasting physical challenges and emotional trauma.

“When you hear stories of farming accidents, people are absolutely devastated when it happens, but then a week later, they’ve moved on. For the people it has happened to, it is a life sentence,” Kemery says. “It’s not a one-day event that you just move on from. I will never move on from this, and my family will never move on from it. This is life-changing and lifelong.”

Kemery knows her situation is unique in that she can talk about her experience. “More often than not, people do not survive those sorts of accidents,” she explains. That’s a key reason Kemery became a vocal farm safety advocate, noting that speaking publicly about her accident became therapeutic and a way to help cope.

“People always think ‘It’s never going to happen to me.’ I’m sure my parents thought that as well,” she says.

Despite the accident, Kemery remains close to her family’s farm, where she and her husband raise their three kids. While she says the family farm is a great place to raise kids, she quickly points out that it can also be dangerous if precautions aren’t taken.

“I always ask people if they’re prepared to be responsible for their child or grandchild’s life. Sure, something may never happen, but it just as likely could. And then what?” says Kemery, who also works off the farm in emergency management, providing various industries with first aid and CPR training and emergency preparedness plans.

“Whenever I hear someone say ‘I did it that way and I survived,’ I remind them that’s survivor bias. You were lucky. But had you got into an accident, this would be an entirely different conversation.”

Part of taking precautions, Kemery says, is involving children and youth in conversations about farm safety and being honest with them about the potential dangers on the farm.

“I believe in talking about everything and not hiding my kids from knowing about things that will hurt them. It’s so important to not shy away from having those conversations about how they can get hurt if they do something. We need to normalize farm safety and be honest with kids,” she explains.

“We don’t give kids enough credit. They are intuitive, smart little beings. And they want to learn. Involving kids in farm safety gives them a sense of belonging and it gives them a role. Everyone has a role on the farm and their role is to stay safe, which is huge.”

That open and honest approach to farm safety extends to her own accident. Kemery says her kids know about her accident, and when they ask questions, she is truthful with them about what happened and why.

“I can’t hide it from them; I’m covered in scars. They ask what happened and I tell them I was run over by a tractor. When they ask why, I explain that I wasn’t where I should have been and I got really, really hurt,” Kemery says.

“Why shelter them from it? Giving them the truth isn’t going to traumatize them. What will traumatize them is having to cope with an injury as a result of not having open and honest conversations about safety.”

Many parents struggle with where to start with teaching their kids about farm safety, which can lead to overcomplicating or ignoring safety lessons. A valuable resource Kemery found for teaching her children about farm safety is the BASF Safety Scouts, designed to engage little ones in learning about farm safety.

“We want to do right in keeping our kids safe, but as parents, we don’t always know what to say or where to start. The Safety Scouts program takes care of that uncertainty,” Kemery explains, adding with a laugh that her three-year-old son thought the safety vest that comes with the kit was the “bees’ knees.”

“Excluding kids from being involved with the farm can be dangerous because they want to be involved and they are going to find a way, whether you’re involved or not. So instead of ignoring it, it’s important to guide that involvement to make sure it’s as safe as possible. The Safe Scouts kit helps achieve that and helps kids visualize their role on the farm.”

Kemery notes that parents can also benefit from the program, as it provides new perspectives on farm safety.

“There were hazards included that I had never really considered, so, as a parent, it made me stop and think. And that’s important because we’re never too old or experienced to learn something new,” Kemery says. “That’s how things evolve and change for the better.

As the saying goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day,’ and the same notion applies with instilling farm safety. When it comes to farm safety lessons, as Kemery points out, repetition and patience are crucial.

“Farm kids are still kids. And because they’re kids, they’ll probably forget some of it, so be patient and remember that repetition is the best way to create success for farm safety,” she explains. “Having patience for kids who are learning is key. Don’t make them afraid of failing or afraid to ask for help and instead end up in a dangerous situation. Because how is that better?”

Kemery is candid when she says the trauma from her accident will never go away, noting that there’s no end to the hardships and pain she has to navigate. “That’s my life and the reality of the situation; there will always be trauma.”

That’s also why she continues to advocate for farm safety and strives to teach others how a single choice can affect the rest of their lives and their children’s lives.

“I tell people to think about the fact that an oversight could decide the fate of your child’s well-being. One decision that was made, and it wasn’t malicious or anything, but that one decision changed my life,” she explains.

“I still believe that growing up on the farm is one of the most rewarding experiences that a person could offer their kids. And embracing safety helps make the most of that experience.”

Kids FarmSafe Week is a new public awareness campaign hosted by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association with the aim of promoting the safety and wellness of children and youth on Canadian farms. For its inaugural year, the campaign took place May 13-19, presented by BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions. More information can be found online.

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But while Canadian farms are becoming safer, hazards still exist, and it’s clear that there is still a long way to go with farm safety — particularly when it comes to children and youth.

The latest Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) data highlights some concerning statistics about child and youth deaths related to agriculture. CAIR is the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s national surveillance program, coordinated by the Injury Prevention Centre at the University of Alberta.

According to CAIR data, from 1990 to 2020, a staggering 435 children and youth lost their lives due to agriculture-related incidents, with children ages one to four having the highest number of deaths of those under age 19.

Farms and ranches are not just workplaces, but also areas where people live and play. As a result, while other industries see occupational injury victims almost exclusively in the 18- to 65-year-old range, children sadly account for a significant number of fatalities in agriculture.

What’s contributing to so many agriculture-related fatalities among children and youth? According to the CAIR data, the majority (65 per cent) of children and youth deaths were caused by machinery, and most of those incidents involved a tractor. Runovers accounted for 32 per cent of child and youth deaths, followed by rollovers (15 per cent) and drownings (11 per cent). However, the second-largest category for mechanisms of injury — “other” — underscores the various hazards on the farm that can cause injury.

Unsurprisingly, the leading cause of death differs when looking at the unique age groups. The CAIR report indicates runovers are the leading cause of fatal injury for children under the age of nine, followed by drownings. In contrast, rollovers are the leading cause of death for youths aged 10 to 19.

Most of these victims (67 per cent) were not working at the time of the tragic incident but were in the area of farm work. One in three (65 per cent) of victims was the child of the owner/operator of the farm, with visiting children/youths representing 10 per cent of victims, followed by hired workers at nine per cent.

It’s important to keep in mind that these statistics are more than just numbers. They’re a sobering reminder of the need to protect the well-being of kids on the farm.

What can you do to keep kids safe on the farm? While farm kids are known for growing up quickly, because of the environment they are brought up in, remember that they’re still kids. So, ensure any tasks you give kids on the farm are age-appropriate. While kids might be living and playing on the farm, it’s also a workplace with plenty of hazards. Take time to create a designated play area, put barriers where possible around areas kids shouldn’t access (such as bodies of water or heights), and always provide adequate supervision.

Remember to discuss safety regularly with your kids, making it a routine part of conversations, and lead by example by demonstrating safe practices in your own actions.

Together, we can create a safer, more sustainable, and vibrant future for agriculture, and make these troubling statistics a thing of the past.

A new campaign

Kids FarmSafe Week is a new public awareness campaign hosted by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association with the aim of promoting the safety and wellness of children and youth on Canadian farms.

For its inaugural year, the campaign takes place May 13-19, 2024 and is presented by BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions. More information can be found online.

— Article courtesy of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers. CASA is funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial and territorial initiative. For more information, visit the CASA web site, find us on Facebook or LinkedIn, or follow us on X @planfarmsafety.

The post Data shows more needs to be done to keep kids safe on the farm appeared first on Grainews.