Two farm safety programs operated by the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health reached significant milestones this year, supporting efforts to improve the health and safety of farmers across New York and the United States.
The John May Farm Safety Fund awarded funding for its 500th completed project over the summer. The project provided a squeeze chute to Cortland County beef farmer Chuck Doran, helping improve the safety of his cattle handling system while reducing stress on the animals.
Days later, the fund surpassed $2 million in total investments toward improving on-farm safety for New York farmers.
The milestone was marked with an award to Mark and Jody Applebee, a Steuben County family that has farmed for nearly 40 years. With support from the John May Farm Safety Fund, the Applebees upgraded their cattle handling system with safer equipment as they continue to expand their operation.
The National ROPS Rebate Program also is marking its 20th anniversary this year. The program was launched in New York in 2006 before expanding to serve farmers across the United States.
Farmers in 27 states have benefited from the program, with more than 3,900 tractors retrofitted with rollover protective structures, or ROPS. Thirty past participants have reported surviving tractor overturns because of ROPS installed through the program. Other participants have reported near misses and incidents in which ROPS helped protect them from injuries.
The programs are part of NYCAMH's efforts to support farmers, farmworkers and their families and improve safety and health in rural communities.
Source: New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, "Celebrating the John May Farm Safety Fund and National ROPS Rebate Program"