Safety

Spring is the Time to Inspect Silage Storage

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:23:58 GMT

As last year’s forage inventories slowly decline, many producers are starting to turn their attention to the upcoming crop. With less feed in bunkers, bags and silos, it becomes easier to evaluate storage structures and address maintenance needs before the next harvest fills them again.

Liz Gartman, regional crops educator with UW–Madison Extension, says this spring is an ideal time for producers to inspect silage structures and make improvements that protect next season’s forage. Producers invest heavily in growing and harvesting high-quality forage, but that effort can be lost if storage systems don’t maintain the right conditions.

“All this hard work can be negated by using silage structures that fail to preserve the crop or allow for spoilage or additional contamination,” Gartman explains.

Oxygen is the Biggest Threat

Regardless of how silage is stored, keeping oxygen out is the biggest piece of preserving feed quality.

“Oxygen is the enemy of quality silage,” Gartman says. “When air infiltrates silage, it can lead to heating, mold growth and secondary fermentation that reduce feed value and increase shrink.”

Many producers focus on the plastic covering used to seal silage, but oxygen infiltration can occur in several other ways. Cracks in bunker walls, leaking silo doors or holes in silage bags can all introduce air into the silage mass.

Before refilling any storage structure, Gartman recommends removing all remaining feed and cleaning the storage area thoroughly. Spoiled or moldy feed left behind can contaminate the next crop. In addition, acids produced during fermentation can damage concrete and metal over time, contributing to deterioration in silage structures.

Each system has its own maintenance needs, which is why spring is the best time to inspect closely, take note of problem areas and plan repairs for summer so everything is ready before the next silage harvest.

Inspect Bunkers Before Filling

(Farm Journal, Inc.)

Bunker silos are a common storage method because they offer flexibility and relatively low construction costs, but they require regular attention to maintain an airtight seal.

Gartman notes that oxygen can move through concrete walls and floors, especially when cracks develop from freeze-thaw cycles, heavy equipment traffic or normal wear.

Now is a good time to inspect for cracks in walls, joints and floors and complete repairs or sealing work as needed, while also planning ahead so issues can be addressed before the next silage harvest. Drainage should also be checked to ensure seepage moves away from the pile rather than collecting at the base.

Some producers line bunker floors or walls with plastic to improve the oxygen barrier, but care is needed during filling and feedout to avoid damaging those barriers, which can quickly lead to spoilage.

Bags and Piles Need the Right Location

Silage bags and piles offer flexibility for many operations, but their placement and management play a major role in maintaining feed quality.

Bags located in high-traffic areas, poorly drained sites or areas accessible to wildlife are more likely to experience damage or contamination. Mud around bags can also increase the risk of soil entering the feed during filling and feedout.

If muddy conditions are common, consider moving bags to a firm base such as concrete or packed limestone screenings. Leveling ruts and improving drainage around storage areas can also reduce problems.

Regularly checking bags and piles for plastic damage should be standard practice. Any holes caused by birds, rodents or weather should be repaired quickly to keep oxygen out and protect silage quality.

Silos Require Routine Checks

Upright silos are no longer as common on many dairies, but they still require a different set of maintenance checks.

Gartman encourages producers to identify areas where spoilage regularly occurs, as those locations may signal air leaks or structural problems. Walls should be inspected for cracks, while damaged doors should be repaired or replaced to ensure a tight seal.

Other areas to review include:

Roofs and seals that may allow water or air infiltration
Ladders, cages and chutes that may need repair
Unloaders, cables and pulleys that show signs of wear
Safety guards on moving equipment

Because many silos have been in service for decades, periodic professional inspections can help identify structural concerns before they become major issues.

Safety Remains a Top Priority

(Canva)

Working around silage structures carries risks, particularly when entering silos or working near silage faces. Gartman stresses the importance of following proper safety procedures when performing inspections or repairs.

For upright silos, producers should follow OSHA confined space entry protocols. Workers should use a harness connected to a lifeline, wear appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure equipment is locked out so it cannot be accidentally started.

Additional safety reminders include:

Wearing high-visibility clothing when working around flat storage structures
Avoiding the silage face and maintaining a safe distance to prevent avalanche risks
Working in pairs so someone can call for help if needed

“Always keep safety top of mind when you are inspecting and repairing silage structures,” Gartman says.

Small Repairs Can Protect Valuable Feed

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On many dairies, maintenance tasks can easily get pushed aside by more immediate priorities. But silage storage plays a critical role in protecting one of the farm’s most valuable feed resources.

Taking time to inspect bunkers, silos and bags can help reduce feed shrink and preserve forage quality. When storage systems are well maintained, they do a better job protecting the investment made in every crop.

How to Prevent Needlestick Injuries in Livestock Practice

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:30:06 GMT

Most injection injuries in food-animal practice never make it into an incident log. They happen, they sting and the work continues. But some of them are not minor. Some require urgent medical care, and recognizing which is which can prevent permanent damage.

Dr. Jeff Bender, veterinarian and director of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center at the University of Minnesota, recently spoke on the significance of accidental self-injection as an underreported occupational hazard in livestock medicine. It can be common to continue working, assuming the exposure is harmless, but that assumption is not always correct.

Immediate Response: Slow Down and Assess

When a needlestick occurs, the first step is to stop. Do not finish the chute run. Do not assume it is minor.

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and note the time of exposure. Identify the exact product involved, how much was injected and where. A superficial puncture through clothing is very different from a deep injection into a finger or thumb.

Bring the product bottle and label to medical care. Most physicians and emergency departments are unfamiliar with livestock pharmaceuticals. The clinical risk depends heavily on whether the product is oil-based, long-acting, hormonal, sedative or modified live.

As Bender emphasizes: “Make sure you grab the bottle, take this bottle with you to the urgent care or the clinic, and let them know this is what you got.”

Tetanus status should also be confirmed at the time of evaluation.

Certain exposures warrant immediate medical attention:

Oil-adjuvanted vaccines
Sedatives, such as xylazine
Hormonal products, such as prostaglandins

Further, if there is increasing pain, swelling, pallor or neurologic symptoms, medical attention is required. These are not wait-and-see injuries.

Not All Products Carry Equal Risk

The severity of a needlestick injury depends far more on the product than on the needle.

Oil-adjuvanted vaccines pose the greatest risk for local tissue damage. Oil-based products can trigger intense inflammatory reactions, increasing pressure within confined spaces like digits. Compartment syndrome, tissue necrosis and surgical intervention are real possibilities. Any digital injection with an oil-based vaccine should be treated as a potential surgical emergency until proven otherwise.

Sedatives present a different type of danger. Even small amounts absorbed systemically can lead to hypotension, respiratory depression, bradycardia or sudden collapse. Exposures involving sedatives warrant urgent evaluation and monitoring.

Bender shares a story highlighting how unpredictable animal behavior adds risk: “Recently, one of our residents had xylazine, and a rambunctious horse caused her to squirt it in her eye. She passed out, and luckily, she didn’t hit her head or anything.”

Hormonal products also deserve heightened caution. Prostaglandins and other reproductive hormones can have systemic effects and pose particular risk to pregnant individuals. What is a small dose for a cow can have meaningful physiologic consequences in a human.

Modified-live vaccines raise concerns about zoonotic potential depending on the organism involved, reinforcing the need for product-specific evaluation. Antibiotics and long-acting depot formulations are often underestimated. Allergic reactions, hypersensitivity and prolonged local inflammation are possible, particularly with depot products that extend tissue exposure time.

The guiding principle is simple: identify the compound before deciding the injury is minor.

Why Human Medicine May Struggle to Advise

Emergency physicians rarely encounter livestock vaccines or reproductive hormones. When a veterinarian or farm worker presents after an accidental injection, the provider may not know the formulation, adjuvant type or pharmacologic effect.

“Usually when I ask my physician colleagues this question… they really don’t have a clue,” Bender says.

Without clear product information, evaluation becomes guesswork.

This places veterinarians in the role of interpreter. Providing the exact product name, formulation and safety data sheet allows healthcare providers to assess risk accurately. Keeping that documentation accessible in clinic trucks or digital files is a simple and effective safeguard.

Prevention Starts Before the Stick

Injection injuries are often described as inevitable. In reality, many are predictable.

Fatigue at the end of processing days, poorly restrained animals and hurried recapping of needles are high-risk moments. Sedatives and oil-based vaccines deserve heightened procedural caution. For certain products, two-person administration may be appropriate.

Facility conditions also matter. Safe chutes, adequate lighting and readily available sharps containers reduce impulsive decision-making. A stocked first-aid kit everyone can locate is not optional. On many farms, especially those with newer employees or language barriers, safety training around injectable products may never have been formalized.

Risk reduction in this context does not require complex protocols. It requires intentional practice.

Key prevention points include:

Avoid recapping needles whenever possible
Ensure secure animal restraint before injection
Use appropriate needle length and gauge
Keep sharps containers accessible
Review high-risk drugs with staff before use

Take It Seriously

Food animal practice involves powerful pharmaceuticals administered in dynamic environments. Accidental injection is a predictable hazard of the profession.

The obligation is straightforward. Stop when it happens. Identify the product. Seek care when indicated. Build systems that reduce risk for the next time.

Needlestick injuries are not badges of experience. They are occupational exposures. And they deserve respect.

Employer of Fatal Colorado Dairy Accident Addresses Rumors and OSHA Citations

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:08:04 GMT

In August 2025, six lives were lost on a Colorado dairy farm as a result of a tragic accident involving exposure to hydrogen sulfide, or H2S. This loss has shaken not only the families, but also the victims’ local Weld County communities.

Four of the victims were employees of HPR, or High Plains Robotics, a dairy equipment company based in Johnstown, Colo. – one of several outside contractors whom the dairy hires to service its equipment. Jorge Sanchez Pena, 36, was a service manager. Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, 50, and Carlos Espinoza Prado, 29, were service technicians. Oscar Espinoza Leos, 17, was an intern. The other two victims were employees of the dairy where the accident occurred.

“Losing these guys is something we have felt and grieved every day since the accident,” says Kevin Fiske, owner of HPR. “As a local, family-owned company, we have never been through anything like this, and the families they have left behind have been first and foremost on our minds.”

Throughout the six months since the accident, OSHA has been completing its investigation at the dairy.

“The only ones who truly know what happened are no longer with us, but we do know that the HPR employees were experienced and careful.” Fiske says. “The four men would not have put themselves or others in harm’s way if the extent of the danger had been even a possibility in their mind.”

As of mid-February, 2026, OSHA completed its investigation, assigning citations to HPR, the dairy and another contractor. Citations to HPR include failure to protect employees from hazardous atmospheres and failure to provide hydrogen sulfide detection training.

“We’ve been supportive throughout the investigation, answering questions and providing documentation,” Fiske says. “We disagree with the findings, and we’re exploring our next steps.”

According to a statement from OSHA, the investigation also concluded an HPR employee and a Prospect Ranch employee attempted to stop the flow but were overcome by the gas. Subsequently, three more HPR employees and one Prospect Ranch employee entered the pump room, which led to the loss of a total of six workers.

In light of the release of the OSHA citations, HPR has released the following statement:

“Our hearts are heavy as we review OSHA’s citations related to the accident that claimed the lives of four of our employees in August 2025. We have cooperated with the investigation proceedings to date. While we disagree with the findings and are reviewing our options to determine next steps, we are focused on doing what is in our power to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.

The men that we lost were not only pillars of their families and communities, but they were also valuable and respected members of HPR. We share in the grief of their untimely passing. As employees of HPR, their pride in their work was evidenced by the diligence with which they served our dairy customers.”

“I just wish everyone knew how great these guys were at their jobs,” Fiske says. “A few of them had been with us at HPR for years, and we knew them like family. They were some of the best dairy technicians around.

“They were sons, husbands, dads, brothers, uncles, grandfathers. The accident was just that – an accident. They are so dearly missed by so many, and will be for years to come.”

New Details: Devastating Dairy Farm Accident in Colorado Kills Six

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:39:13 GMT

Dairy Herd Management was able to confirm more details about what exactly happened through close sources.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, a tragic accident unfolded at Prospect Valley Dairy in Keenesburg, Colo., claiming the lives of six individuals, including a high school student. The fatal incident was connected to gas exposure in a confined space, pending the results of autopsy and toxicology.

A Grieving Community
The local community was left in shock and grief as news of the accident spread. The Weld County Board of Commissioners expressed their sorrow, emphasizing the collective hurt felt by everyone in the region:

“Our Weld County community is hurting with the news of the accident at the Prospect Dairy in southern Weld County. Our prayers for the families affected are focused on strength, healing, and compassion as they navigate this tragedy. The agricultural community in Weld County, as it is across this country, is strong and full of compassionate, hard-working individuals and families who support each other, especially in difficult times such as this. The Weld County Board of Commissioners extends its sympathy to these families and to our agricultural community.”

The Incident Unfolded
According to sources, the disaster began when a contractor was working on an underground manure pit at Prospect Valley Dairy. Throughout the day, workers frequented the area, and as the day concluded, a worker returned to perform additional tasks, potentially involving adjusting a valve. This action inadvertently led to the release of hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas known for its lethality at high concentrations.

Tragically, the worker inside the pit collapsed almost instantly due to the hazardous exposure. In a desperate attempt to rescue him, five others rushed into the pit, disregarding a supervisor’s warnings not to enter the dangerous space.

Among the victims was a 17-year-old high school student from Highland High School in Ault, the son of one of the workers involved in the incident. Dairy Herd Management is told that two farm employees, along with two service representatives were among the deceased, along with two sons of one of the service representatives.

Supporting the Families
In response to this devastating event, a GoFundMe page has been initiated by the local community. The fundraiser aims to alleviate the financial strains on the affected families by covering funeral expenses, memorial arrangements and other immediate needs.

For those who wish to contribute, donations can be made: GoFundMe

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In a heart-wrenching incident that has shaken northern Colorado, six individuals tragically lost their lives following a confined space rescue operation at a dairy farm. The incident, unfolding at Prospect Valley Dairy, located just east of Keenesburg, has left the local community in mourning and raised critical concerns about safety practices in agricultural operations.

A Grim Discovery
Wednesday evening, emergency services were called to the Prospect Ranch Dairy, a member of Dairy Farmers of America, situated north of Denver. Responding to a confined space rescue call, the efforts sadly transitioned from a rescue to a recovery operation.

Southeast Weld Fire Protection District officials say crews recovered the six bodies at the 32000 block of Weld County Road 18, about 30 miles north of Denver, on Aug. 20. They had been sent to the site at about 6 p.m. to perform a confined space rescue, says Tom Beach, fire chief for the fire district covering parts of Weld and Adams counties.

“Unfortunately, district personnel recovered six deceased individuals from the space,” Beach says in a statement . “The district extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims.”

Investigation Underway
The initial findings by the Weld County Coroner’s Office hinted at exposure to a hazardous gas, setting the stage for a detailed investigation. However, authorities, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, have noted no criminal factors were discovered at the scene. This underscores the need for thorough exploration into safety protocols and potential preventive measures that could avert such tragic occurrences in the future.

Community in Mourning
Kim O’Brien from DFA echoed Beach’s sentiment, communicating a deep-seated sorrow and extending thoughts and prayers to the grieving families.

“We can confirm that a tragic accident occurred on one of our member farms in Keenesburg, Colo., which has resulted in the death of six people. We are deeply saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and most sincere condolences go out to the friends and families of the deceased. At this early stage, we have no further details,” DFA’s statement read.

There are more than 300 dairies in Colorado with Weld County home to the majority of the dairies, with 78 located there.

Moving Forward with Safety
As the community processes this loss, the incident has ignited discussions around safety measures within the agricultural sector.

Dangerous gases from manure, silage and equipment pose a hazard, often unseen and potentially deadly, to dairy employees.

The Center for Dairy Excellence and Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania has developed a video informing employees of the dangers and warning signs related to gases on the farm. “Staying Safe Around Gases” is one of six “Seconds for your Safety” videos published by the Pennsylvania dairy groups.

According to the video, gas releases can be flammable and immediately toxic. They are also usually invisible and odorless. Among the common gases that can cause accidents on dairies are hydrogen sulfide in the bottom of tanks and sump pumps, carbon monoxide in engines and machine rooms, and biogas from manure that accumulates under roofs and ceilings. The risk of gas exposure is increased greatly when manure (both liquid and solid) is agitated or moved.

The brief video is less than 2 min. long, and available in both English and Spanish versions. The Center for Dairy Excellence also offers a series of six farm safety signs , and resources on manure storage design and on-farm gas monitoring technology.

Other safety topics covered in the series include on-farm electrical safety, tractor and truck rollovers, preventing falls, horizontal silo safety, and youth on the farm.

This is a developing story and as investigations continue, Dairy Herd Management will update as we learn more. Our team offers heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragic accident.

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Silage Season Is No Time for Silly Safety Shortcuts

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 16:49:54 GMT

Silage harvest is one of the busiest and highest-risk times of year on the farm. With heavy equipment, multiple workers and time-sensitive tasks all in motion, it’s essential to make safety a priority. According to Trent Dado, dairy consultant with GPS Dairy Consulting, and Kevin Putnam, Northeast Dairy Specialist with Pioneer, proactive planning and clear communication can significantly reduce risk throughout the process.

Put a Plan in Place
“Silage harvest can be a whirlwind,” Dado says. “One of the things that I really encourage producers to do is to have a pre-silage harvest meeting with a lot of their stakeholders, including the custom harvesters. Not everyone knows the layout of your farm or fields, so having a short meeting to discuss safety, clarify roles and talk through any potential problems early is worthwhile.”

Putnam agrees, stressing the importance of clear communication and strong leadership during harvest.

“There are a lot of different people involved during harvest, so you want to have one person in charge.” Putnam says. “This person should know what’s happening at the bunk, can direct equipment traffic and tell people where to go. Have someone in charge of the flow and synchrony to keep things safe and efficient.”

Respect the Road
Road safety during silage harvest is just as important as safety in the field, especially when there’s a steady stream of trucks and wagons hauling feed back and forth. Both Putnam and Dado say it all starts with clear communication.

“One of the things we often forget is that a lot of the custom harvester crews, especially their truck drivers, may not have been to all your fields before,” Dado says. “They don’t always know where that narrow driveway is or which field entrance is hard to spot over the hill.”

That’s why preharvest meetings are so important — to talk through those little things before they become big problems.

Dado encourages farms to walk through traffic flow and field access ahead of time, even if it’s just a quick map or meeting.

“Should we widen a field entrance this year? Do we need a sign posted at the top of the hill that says ‘truck traffic ahead’? Those things are simple but can make a big difference in keeping people safe,” he says.

Putnam agrees, adding that planning routes in and out of each field and the bunker helps keep things running smoothly.

“Some drivers might be part-timers or new to the crew. They need to know which road to take, which lane to pull into, how to get into the bunk and where to go after that,” he says. “If people are guessing, it slows everything down and increases risk.”

Both experts also recommend giving local authorities a heads-up before harvest kicks off.

“Letting local police or EMS know when and where you’re going to be hauling silage gives them a chance to put out a PSA or just keep an eye out,” Dado says. “They’re part of the community, too, and it’s one more way to avoid issues.”

Putnam adds reaching out to neighbors doesn’t hurt either.

“A lot of farms send out a short newsletter [to their community] before manure season just a heads-up that says here’s what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and when. There’s no reason you can’t do the same before silage harvest.”

He also notes the importance of setting expectations with the harvest crew.

“Slow down, wave and be respectful to your neighbors,” Putnam adds. “Even if you’re not doing anything wrong, how we’re seen in the community matters. It helps build trust and keeps the phone from ringing with complaints.”

Bunker and Pile Safety
Big machines, tight spaces and nonstop traffic make silage bunkers and piles one of the more hazardous spots on the farm during harvest. According to Dado, bunker safety starts with traffic flow, good communication and making sure the right people are running the equipment.

“Within the feed center, understanding how traffic flows is a big deal,” Dado says. “A lot of farms set up one-way routes — trucks come in one way and leave another. That helps prevent congestion and reduces blind spots. Adding mirrors around corners also helps drivers see what’s coming.”

When it comes to the pile itself, Dado emphasizes proper slope and technique.

“Generally, piles are safe as long as you’re keeping your slopes reasonable,” he says. “For both safety and feed quality, you don’t want anything steeper than a 3:1 slope. Go beyond that, and you’re at risk for rollovers.”

Operators should avoid filling higher than bunker walls and make sure they’re packing evenly across the face. Dado warns that some of the most dangerous spots are near the bunker walls, specially if they’re not packed well early on.

“People are afraid to get too close, so they avoid those edges, which leads to soft feed,” Dado says. “Then later, when they finally do get close to the wall, their tires slip and they can get stuck. That’s a really dangerous situation.”

Both Dado and Putnam agree clear communication with everyone on the farm, including outside visitors, is one of the most important ways to stay safe during silage harvest.

“One of the biggest safety issues we see is people showing up to the bunk, like nutritionists, seed reps or consultants, and no one knows they’re there,” Putnam says. “They show up to check processing or take a sample, but they’re not visible and haven’t told anyone. That’s a huge risk.”

Whether someone is coming to the field or the feed center, Putnam recommends they always check in with the person in charge before arriving and confirm where it’s safe to park and walk.

“If I’m going to a cornfield or the bunker, I ask myself, where am I parking? Am I out of the way? Can everyone see me? Communicating that you’re there and making yourself visible is critical,” he says.

Reducing Fire Risk Through Maintenance and Preparedness
With choppers and tractors running long hours in dry, dusty conditions, fire risk is always something to take seriously. Dado says it’s one of the biggest safety concerns during silage harvest, yet it’s something farms often don’t prepare for until they’ve had a close call.

“These choppers generate a lot of heat,” he says. “All it takes is one bad bearing or a spark and suddenly you’ve got a very expensive piece of equipment in flames and people in danger.”

To help prevent fires, Dado recommends blowing off the chopper at the end of each day to clear out debris, plant matter and dust.

“It’s simple, but it makes a difference,” he says. “A clean machine is a safer machine.”

He also stresses the importance of fire extinguishers, not just having them, but making sure they’re actually usable.

“Take the time before harvest to go through your equipment and check that those extinguishers aren’t 10 years expired,” he says.

Beyond equipment, it’s also smart to have a basic fire response plan in place.

“Know where your nearest water source is and talk with your crew about what to do if something happens,” Dado says. “Even letting your local fire department know you’re starting harvest can help. If they know you’ll have trucks and equipment moving around certain roads, they can keep an extra eye out or respond faster if something goes wrong.”

Don’t Overdo it When Covering the Pile
When it comes time to covering the pile, physical fatigue and heat can quickly create dangerous conditions, especially for those who aren’t used to that amount of physical labor.

“A lot of people helping throw tires or cover silage may not be used to that kind of work,” Dado says. “It’s usually hot out, and fatigue can set in quickly. Make sure you’re watching out for signs of exhaustion or heat stress.”

The combination of heat, heavy lifting and long hours can lead to dehydration, dizziness and muscle strain. That’s why it’s important to plan for rest breaks, provide plenty of water and consider assigning lighter tasks to those who need them. Dado recommends rotating crews and building in regular breaks to keep everyone sharp.

“Harvest is tough physically and mentally, so managing your team’s energy is just as important as managing your equipment,” he adds. “Well-rested crews make fewer mistakes and work more safely.”

Finish Strong with a Safe Season
Silage harvest doesn’t have to come at the expense of safety. With a little extra planning, clear communication and a focus on keeping people visible and informed, you can protect your team and keep things moving smoothly.

“Harvest can be fast-paced and chaotic, but when everyone’s on the same page, it doesn’t have to be dangerous,” Dado says. “Take the time to prep. Those little details can prevent big problems.”

Whether you’re managing crews, covering a pile or hauling feed across town, staying safe means slowing down just enough to make good decisions. And that’s what helps you finish this silage harvest season strong.

It's Hot Out There: Avoid Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion This Summer

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 20:05:09 GMT

As the temperatures begin to soar, we all know farm and ranch work never stops, even in the hot weather.

“Wear lightweight, long-sleeved, light-colored clothing, or a cooling vest and take short, frequent breaks in a shaded or cool area to stay cool while working outdoors,” says Tawnie Larson, a program manager in Kansas State University’s Carl and Melinda Helwig Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health Program.

She says technical cooling vests “are essentially like wearing air conditioning.”

“The vests use specialized fabric and fibers to circulate cooling products to keep body temperatures low during hot days,” she explains.

Larson also suggests using equipment with a canopy, such as a Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS) with a sunshade.

“Usually, the ROPS with canopies cannot be folded down, which in turn provides more safety for operators because the ROPS is always activated,” Larson says. “Equipment that has an enclosed cab often times comes with air conditioning and has a built-in ROPS. Both of these options provide safety from rollovers and can help prevent heat-related illness.”

Because each individual reacts to hot days different, it’s important to listen to your body, Larson says. Take frequent breaks and stay inside during the hottest part of the day if possible.

“Medication may also play a role in affecting one’s body’s ability to stay cool, making it harder to handle the heat,” Larson says. “Before working outside this summer, check with your doctor to see if you’re at higher risk for heat-related illness and whether you should take extra-precautions due to medication.”

Is it Heat Stroke or Heat Exhaustion?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends drinking 1 cup of water every 15-20 minutes, and before becoming thirsty. The CDC also recommends keeping sugary and alcoholic drinks to a minimum. Replace salt and minerals with snacks or a sports drink.

Heat stroke symptoms include high body temperature; hot, dry, red or damp skin; fast, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and lack of consciousness.

If a person is suffering from heat stroke:

Call 9-1-1 immediately.
Move the person to a cooler place.
Lower the person’s temperature with cooler clothes.
Do not give the person anything to drink.

“Heat exhaustion is different and usually not as serious,” Larson says.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include:

heavy sweating
cold, pale and clammy skin
fast, weak pulse
nausea
tiredness
headache
fainting

“If this occurs, take action by moving to a cool place, loosen clothing, get cool, sip water and seek medical attention if symptoms last longer than an hour or get worse,” Larson says.

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Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:01:32 GMT

About every three days, a child dies in an agriculture-related incident, and each day, at least 33 children are injured. During the past decade, youth worker fatalities in agriculture have exceeded all other industries combined.

Although the rate of non-fatal injuries to children in agriculture has dropped since the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety was established in 1997, agriculture remains hazardous for children and youth, explained Barbara Lee, director of the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety .

“We’ve come a long way,” Lee told AgriTalk’s Chip Flory. “We had really good injury data for about 12 years, and it shows the rate of injuries declined by about 60%. The rate of fatalities of children dying in farm accidents has stayed fairly steady, however, despite the decline in the number of farms and number of kids on farms. I think the most revealing thing is that for both injuries and deaths, more than half of them occur to kids who are not working – they are just bystanders in the farm environment.”

Lee said this is where the industry needs to keep its focus.

“Certainly, we want to protect the kids who are working. We believe work is good for them, inherently valuable. For kids working in agriculture, it’s really important to match the child and the child’s characteristics with the work at hand,” Lee said.

But it’s also important to keep a close eye on kids who stop by the farm or find themselves part of the farming background.

Be on Watch

“We’re entering into a dangerous time of the year for farm families,” Flory said. He asked Lee to share some of the biggest safety concerns right now.

She said the greatest number of deaths for young people are related to accidents with tractors, skid steers, moving implements and other forms of transportation.

“It’s really important that we factor in the dangers and the ability of a child to really handle machinery. I always think about when things go wrong, will the child be able to handle it? Bad weather? Equipment failure? Is the child mature enough to handle when things go wrong?”

She also encouraged parents to remember to parents first and farmers second. She said that means adopting the principles of safety for all kids.

“I can’t state it often enough about the little ones who really should not be in the work environment,” Lee said. “When you’re working, you have got to focus on the work. With nearly every child who was injured or killed on a farm, there’s an adult nearby. It’s not they aren’t supervised, but farming can get complicate and little kids are unpredictable.”

Reflecting on 25 Years

On May 19, the center will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a free webinar. Speakers will include Lee, Marsha Salzwedel, project scientist and agricultural youth safety specialist at the National Children’s Center; Marilyn Adams, founder, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids; Dennis Murphy, professor emeritus, Penn State University; and Jana Davidson, program manager, Progressive Agriculture Foundation.

“This anniversary has really given us time to reflect back at how this all got started, what has changed in our work, and what’s changed in the workers and work environment for children. There’s a lot of good things happening and a few challenges still ahead of us,” Lee said.

Learn more and sign up for the free webinar.

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One Family’s Tragedy Sparks Nationwide Farm Safety Project

Asian Longhorned Tick Now Found in 19 States

Wed, 08 May 2024 13:08:21 GMT

Ticks are an issue beef and dairy producers and veterinarians contend with every year. But not all ticks warrant the description USDA offers for the Asian longhorned tick – “invasive pests that pose a serious threat to livestock.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in April 2023 that Asian longhorned ticks (ALT) have been found in 19 states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

(Farm Journal)

When Bovine Veterinarian (a Farm Journal publication) first reported on ALT (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in 2022, it was in 17 states.

Since then, Indiana and Massachusetts have been added to the list.

ALTs Like To Feed On Cattle
The ticks, which originated in East Asia, feed on many hosts, including beef and dairy cattle. Large numbers of ALTs can infest a single host, impacting growth, performance and milk production.

ALT also carry Theileria orientalis (Ikeda genotype), a protozoal organism that causes disease in cattle by infecting red blood cells.

In some regions of New Zealand and Australia, for instance, the tick can reduce production in dairy cattle by an estimated 25%.

In extreme cases, an infestation of ALT can cause bovine deaths, due to blood loss.

An Ohio State University (OSU) assistant professor in veterinary preventive medicine, Risa Pesapane, found that to be the case in 2021. A farmer called OSU to report three of his 18 cattle, heavily infested with the ticks, had died.

(Farm Journal)

“One of those was a healthy male bull, about 5 years old. Enormous. To have been taken down by exsanguination by ticks, you can imagine that was tens of thousands of ticks on one animal,” said Pesapane, in a press release developed by Emily Caldwell, OSU staff writer.

‘Huge Numbers’ Are Often Found
An analysis published in the Journal of Medical Entomology reveals that scientists gathered nearly 10,000 ticks in roughly 90 minutes in the Ohio cow pasture. As a result, Pesapane estimated there were more than 1 million ALT in the roughly 25-acre pasture.

“Where the habitat is ideal, and anecdotally it seems that unmowed pastures are an ideal location, there’s little stopping them from generating these huge numbers,” she said.

One of the factors that make the ALT so difficult to control is the females can reproduce asexually. Researchers say each female can lay up to 2,000 eggs at a time.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website says “it only takes a single Asian longhorned tick to create a population in a new location.”

Target Control Methods Early
Despite applications of pesticides, the ALTs were still present in the Ohio pasture in 2022, the following year, making them what Pesapane called a “long-term management problem.”

“For a variety of reasons, I tell people you cannot spray your way out of an Asian longhorned tick infestation – it will require an integrated approach,” Pesapane said in the news release.

“It would be wisest to target them early in the season when adults become active, before they lay eggs, because then you would limit how many will hatch and reproduce in subsequent years,” she added.

To learn more about how to control ALT, producers and veterinarians can tap into these two resources:

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners addresses control of ALTs in its Have You Herd podcast, which is available here .

Virginia Cooperative Extension offers the online resource, “Managing the Asian Longhorned Tick: Checklist for Best Management Practices for Cattle Producers.”

Take a Buddy with You to the Bunker

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 14:38:04 GMT

Feed-out of new-crop corn silage has begun on most dairies, and it appears this crop may be more prone than normal to silage collapses.

Jordan Hunt, PAS, a northeast Iowa-based consultant with GPS Dairy Consulting, LLC , noted in a recent blog post that producers are reporting regular avalanches of a day’s worth or more of feed from the feed-out faces of silage bunkers and piles.

Hunt cautioned producers and their crews to be mindful of the safety hazards that silage can create. “Use a buddy system when working near the pile and managing the plastic,” he advised. “In the event something happens, one person can call for help.”

He also advised defacing silage so the top of the face is pitched back 2-3 feet from the base. “Undercutting” silage piles can lead to hanging shelves at heights as high as 30 feet, which Hunt reminded are up to 65% moisture, and thus very heavy and prone to collapsing.

Defacing a precise volume each day is also important. Hunt said if the amount for the day is short, avoid using a loader bucket on the face to grab a little more. “Either deface more, or if space allows, do a side-scrape with a wheel loader bucket,” he suggested.

If this year’s crop is showing instability, Hunt advised re-evaluating packing procedures next year, with a packing density goal of greater than 20#DM/cu. ft.

The late Keith Bolsen, silage expert and staunch advocate of silage safety from Kansas State University, promoted the rule-of-thumb to never stand closer to the silage face that three times its height. To safely collect samples, he advised staying away from the face and pulling samples instead from a loader bucket or sample pile that has been moved a safe distance away from the feed-out face.

Lallemand Animal Nutrition developed a comprehensive silage safety handbook authored by Bolsen, which addresses additional bunker and pile safety measures, along with safety education on silage harvest, equipment operation, and dangerous gases.

“I think we all understand the danger associated with this [silage collapses and avalanches],” stated Hunt. “But I do want to remind us all that it can happen in split second, and can be deadly.”

For more on silage, read:

John Phipps: What We Still Don't Know About PFAS

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 19:23:16 GMT

Two comments from Maine viewers about municipal sludge:

“Sludge and sewage contain PFAS and the state of Maine has banned using it since 2022. I disagree with the Report John made Sunday morning.” - Eric Edmundson

“I’m curious why John did not mention PFAS in his recent discussion on using waste treatment sludge as fertilizer? Its use has become a disaster here in Maine.” - Rick Blease

It is not a coincidence that two viewers from Maine responded – Maine has the only and strictest limits on chemicals called PFAS in the country, and also previously encouraged the use of municipal sludge. Very few states have any regulations at all.

The EPA continues to study the situation, but has not defined a PFAS contamination limit. PFAS contain carbon-fluorine chains and were widely used in consumer and industrial products, largely due to water repellant qualities. They became categorized “forever chemicals” which strikes me as meaningless since water and granite are forever chemicals if you stop and think about it. There are over 4,000 man-made forever chemicals.

(Farm Journal)

We don’t know how PFAS enter the food chain. For example, soil treated with sludge containing PFAS grows contaminated lettuce, but not potatoes; corn stalks may contain PFAS, but not the kernels.

Despite considerable alarm from Maine farmers – the handful of which I read about were organic producers – there is no consensus on how harmful these substance levels are. It seems that the closer to the consumer the greater the possibility of PFAS being passed from sludge, which complicates growers who consider this close connection a benefit. Not all municipal sludge contains significant PFAS contamination.

(Farm Journal)

In fact, here’s what the EPA says we DON’T know: How to detect PFAS, how much exposure people are experiencing, how we are exposed, how harmful they are, how to remove them from water, and how to dispose of them. Landfills and incinerators may actually be worse than spreading sludge.

PFAS are rapidly being phased out by industry. There are farm operations ruined by PFAS due to the inability to meet organic standards, but no evidence to date of a pervasive threat to people or land.

The debate will undoubtedly intensify as more research is conducted.

Keep Farm Employees Safe Around Large Equipment

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 19:48:45 GMT

Unfortunately, we all know someone who has been hurt or even killed in a farm-related accident. It happens all too often, with agriculture ranking as one of the top deadliest industries to work in. According to a 2019 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study, 573 fatalities, or an equivalent of 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers, occur on the farm each year. And sadly, that number continues to rise.

Farm employees are a critical piece of our operation and keeping them safe should be every farm’s top priority. However, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, especially when large equipment is involved. John Shutske, Professor and Agricultural Safety & Health Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides these suggestions when it comes to keeping your team safe.

“Some producers think that safety training will just result in eye rolls from their team or seem like a waste of time. Others think that it’s intimidating, boring, or unnecessary. However, safety training doesn’t have to be that way,” Shutske says. “At its best, safety training is a way to build stronger relationships with workers and show them you care deeply about their well-being.”

He suggests implementing ‘tailgate trainings’ to help ward off accidents and keep employees well informed. These training sessions don’t necessarily have to take place on the tailgate of your favorite farm truck, but they should be something you incorporate on your farm regularly. Shutske recommends the following when it comes to conducting these safety trainings:

Keep groups small. Work with employees individually or in groups of no more than 5 to 10 people. This will allow employees to ask questions and receive one-on-one training if necessary.

Keep sessions short. Long, drawn-out training sessions are often inefficient and confusing. Instead, Shutske suggests keeping these meetings to just 15 minutes while focusing on one to two topics or specific skills.

Ask for topic suggestions. It’s important to make training sessions specific to your farm. Ask employees what questions they have or skills they should improve on. They may bring new ideas to the table that you haven’t thought of.

Provide handouts. English is not always the first language for farm employees. Consider providing handouts with pictures or graphics as well as information in their native language. Shutske recommends keeping text to a minimum.

Keep employees engaged. Save time towards the end of the training sessions for conversation, questions, and stories, but make sure to stay on topic.

“Listen for unexpected stories or ideas, especially those that are potential barriers to safe behaviors, such as specific reasons why employees take unsafe shortcuts or fail to wear a certain type of protective equipment. Such feedback enables you to make needed changes. You’re also confirming that you’re receptive to the concerns of team members,” Shutske adds.

Make meetings regular. While most large machinery farming accidents happen during the planting and harvest season, it’s important to remember that disaster can strike at any moment. Therefore, it’s important to keep safety training sessions regular. Shutske suggests conducting meetings either weekly or biweekly so they become an expectation for employees.

Poor Air Quality from Wildfire Smoke can put Livestock, Pets at Risk

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 19:02:11 GMT

Wildfire smoke from Canada returned to the upper Midwest and extended to the Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic this week, resulting in poor air quality in some regions along with reduced visibility.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a report on Wednesday, saying “wildfire smoke from Canada will reduce air quality over parts of the Upper/Middle Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes, Western Ohio Valley, Central Appalachians, and Mid-Atlantic, prompting Air Quality Warnings over the area.”

Unhealthy levels of pollutants from the smoke spread across states in those regions including most of Michigan and Wisconsin and parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, according to tracker AirNow.gov.

The NWS is encouraging anyone with underlying lung conditions or asthma – especially children and the elderly – to limit their time outdoors in those regions affected by wildfire smoke.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) advises monitoring pets and farm animals that could also be affected by the smoke.

“If you can see or feel the effects of smoke yourself, you also should take precautions to keep your animals – both pets and livestock – safe,” the AVMA encourages on its website.

Animals with cardiovascular or respiratory disease are especially at risk from smoke and should be closely watched during all periods of poor air quality.

Look for the following signs of possible smoke or dust irritation in animals, including:
• Coughing or gagging
• Difficulty breathing, including open mouth breathing and increased noise when breathing
• Eye irritation and excessive watering
• Inflammation of throat or mouth
• Nasal discharge
• Asthma-like symptoms
• Increased breathing rate
• Fatigue or weakness
• Disorientation or stumbling
• Reduced appetite and/or thirst

The wildfires range from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador, and 239 were categorized by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) on Tuesday as being “out of control.”

Reuters reports that Canada is wrestling with its worst-ever start to the wildfire season, which has already burned 6.5 million hectares (16 million acres), an area a little bigger than West Virginia.

Dairy Gas Safety Video for On-Farm Employees

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:00:00 GMT

Dangerous gases from manure, silage, and equipment pose a hazard – often unseen and potentially deadly – to dairy employees.

The Center for Dairy Excellence and Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania has developed a video informing employees of the dangers and warning signs related to gases on the farm. “Staying Safe Around Gases” is one of 6 “Seconds for your Safety” videos published by the Pennsylvania dairy groups.

According to the video, gas releases can be flammable, and immediately toxic. They are also usually invisible and odorless. Among the common gases that can cause accidents on dairies are hydrogen sulfide in the bottom of tanks and sump pumps; carbon monoxide in engines and machine rooms; and biogas from manure that accumulates under roofs and ceilings. The risk of gas exposure is increased greatly when manure (both liquid and solid) is agitated or moved.

The brief video is less than 2 minutes long, and available in both English and Spanish versions.

The Center for Dairy Excellence also offers a series of 6 farm safety signs , and resources on manure storage design and on-farm gas monitoring technology.

Other safety topics covered in the series include on-farm electrical safety, tractor and truck rollovers, preventing falls, horizontal silo safety, and youth on the farm.

For more on farm safety, read:

What We Now Know About What Caused the Large Fire at a Texas Dairy Farm

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 17:48:59 GMT

The Texas Fire Marshal is investigating what caused the large fire that broke out at South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt, Texas, earlier this week. However, industry and dairy experts say current information from officials show it was an accident.

The reported explosion occurred at South Fork Dairy, which is located just southeast of Dimmitt. According to Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera, the explosion occurred around 7:20 p.m. on Monday. There are unconfirmed reports of how many cows died from the fire, but officials believe it’s close to 18,000.

pic.twitter.com/Wq4lxyKg1G
— Blake Bednarz (@BlakeBednarz) April 11, 2023

Dairy Management Inc. provided Farm Journal with a statement on behalf of the Texas dairy industry:

“We are deeply saddened for the family dairy, and everyone affected by the tragedy that occurred at South Fork Dairy farm. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and we are deferring to the appropriate authorities to make that determination. Our thoughts are with the dairy family, their employees and local first responders, who are showing great resolve, courage and empathy while working through this tremendous loss.”

The Cloud of Black Smoke

Additional sources say if the explosion was big enough to catch any part of non-fire-resistant insulation on fire, then it would spread like wildfire across the entire building, which covers nearly 40 acres. That would also explain why the fire didn’t last long, because once the insulation was all burned, then the fuel to the fire would also be gone. Insulation not being fireproof would also explain why the building had so much black smoke.

(Farm Journal)

So, then what would cause the large mushroom cloud of black smoke? The building that caught fire was a recently built cross ventilated barn. Cross ventilated barns are typically large and have hundreds of fans to help control the climate with cow comfort in mind. With that many fans in a barn, it’s possible once the fire spread so quickly, the hundreds of fans within the barn blew out the smoke, creating such a big smoke cloud that could be seen from miles away.

Railey Silhan, who lives in Morton, Texas, says the cloud of smoke from the explosion could be seen from her area, which is 80 miles southwest of Dimmitt.

Community Pours in With Support for Dairy Farm Family

The community is already coming together to support a dairy farm family that’s now facing a loss on their family farm. Started just after the fire, a lunch/meal train was created to help support the family and crews on the scene. Local businesses and community members have already signed up, with two weeks’ worth of meals spoken for.

“They [Brand family] are a great family and customer, and today shows how we just help each other where we can. We live in a great community,” Elizabeth De Vries-Dykstra, who helped start the meal train, told Dairy Herd.

Nearly Fatal Farm Accident Causes this Farmer to Count Her Blessings

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 01:51:14 GMT

Tractor rollovers, grain suffocations, deadly fumes, electrocution—the list goes on. Farming is one of the deadliest professions in the world. Second-generation dairy farmer, Cathy Mess, is fully aware of this. She also considers herself very lucky to not add to that statistic.

Six years ago, a farm accident on Cathy’s Watertown, Wis., dairy farm nearly turned fatal for the 64-year-old. The morning of July 6, 2015, began like nearly every other morning for Cathy. She went out to feed the cows on her family’s 100-cow dairy, a job she has done day-after-day, pretty much since forever.

“That morning the cows had a bunch of feed leftover,” Cathy recalls. She then decided to park the truck-mounted mixer to get in a skid loader to move some feed before dumping the fresh feed to the cows.

For most farmers, daily chores become routine, and this holds true for Cathy, who mistakenly forgot to pull the hand brake before getting out of the truck. As she got out, the truck began rolling forward. Cathy slipped and fell, and the truck rolled over her—all happening within seconds.

Lying, bleeding on the driveway, near the west end of the machine shed on her farm, Cathy was still alive. Her son, Pat, was in the barn milking cows and she knew he generally never has his phone on him while milking. She also knew her husband, Clem, who was “hard of hearing” would never hear her yell. She yelled anyways, but nobody came to rescue her – not even a bicyclist who rode by the farm.

Digging in her front pant pocket to grab her phone to call for help, Cathy realized that not only was her phone gone, but so were her pants and the top layer of flesh on her leg. She skimmed around and quickly saw her boot lying with blood running out of it and looked above and thankfully saw her phone. She crawled to it and called 911 herself.

A few miracles happened in that moment. One is that her flip phone still worked and the second is that an EMT who lived two miles away, was getting into his work truck when the 911 call came in. Arriving just a few minutes later, the EMT medic asked Clem where the accident was. Up to that point, Clem was unaware of the horrific accident that happened on the other side of the farm. Likewise, Pat had friends calling him, questioning what was going on. Pat was clueless; until he stepped outside of the parlor and caught sight of his mother, causing him to take a step backward; questioning what his eyes were seeing.

The hours and days that followed are a blur for Cathy who lied unconscious for two weeks in a UW-Madison hospital. Her daughter-in-law, Carrie stayed by her side the entire time. “She was my bulldog,” Cathy says. “And, made sure I was receiving the best care.”

The accident caused Cathy’s left leg to be amputated, just above her knee, as well as lose most of the skin on her thigh. She spent five and half months in various hospitals and had a total of 12 surgeries related to the accident. She came home right before Thanksgiving and while she was thankful to be home, she says it was a challenge to adapt to the life-altering change.

“During a very tough time for me and my family, people stepped up,” Cathy says. “I’m beyond grateful for the friends and neighbors who lend a helping hand in so many ways—from changing my bandages, mowing grass, and so much more.”

Cathy jokes she is now retired, as she no longer feeds cows. Since the accident, either Pat or a full-time employee mixes feed in the morning and Cathy admits it is scary for her to watch others feed cows without thinking of the accident. She tries to stay busy and helps a bit with bookkeeping and can also be found on either her UTV or lawnmower – picking up rocks, silage plastic, or putzing around the farm. Cathy enjoys time spent with family, including her two grandson’s Silas, 5 and Ben, 3, as they explore on the farm. “They bring a smile to my face,” she says. “I love going for treasure hunts (rock picking) with the boys.”

The mental challenge of overcoming all that she has been through isn’t easy. Cathy will tell you that. She struggled with learning to wear a prosthesis and has had more surgeries – some accident-related – some not – that have set her backwards. “Getting going again isn’t all that easy,” she admits. “I’m kind of lazy and I can’t get up and do things like I once could.”

With her husband’s ‘hard of hearing’, Cathy will frequently text her son, Pat, to make sure everything is okay or learn about what’s going on outside on the farm. “My husband still has a flip phone and doesn’t text,” she says. “Pat understands that I need a thumbs up throughout the day.”

Cathy says she is getting better about not having to always have her phone on her. “At first I wore a vest, so I could put the phone there and zip it up,” she says. “Now, I can set it down occasionally without the constant worry.”

According to Cathy’s daughter-in-law, Carrie the day of the accident changed everything for their family and their farm. “In the days since we have all had to adjust to our new normal, but Cathy has obviously gone through the most,” she says. “In all that she has been through, there was only one day where she broke down. I don’t know that anyone else could stay as strong as she has when faced with the challenges she has been dealt.”

Six years have passed by, yet the memory of that unforgettable day hasn’t faded. Cathy realizes how lucky she is to be alive and credits her flip phone for saving her life. “My kids wanted me to get a smartphone,” she says. “I’m glad I didn’t have one back then because it would not have survived the accident.” Ironically, Cathy’s flip phone never worked again after she made that lifesaving 911 call.

Stay Safe this Silage Harvest Season

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

During the rush of corn silage harvest, safety often takes a back seat. However, tragedy can strike in the blink of an eye. Kansas State Extension offers these tips to remember before heading out into the fields this season.

Tractor Rollovers

Operating large machinery during harvest is always a dangerous job. Unfortunately, tractor rollovers have accounted for about 50% of the approximately 250 tractor-related fatalities reported annually in the U.S. To minimize rollover risks, consider the following:

Rollover protective structures create a zone of protection around the tractor operator. When used with a seat belt, rollover protective structures prevent the operator from being thrown from the protective zone and crushed by the tractor or equipment drawn by it.
A straight drop off a bunker silo wall is a significant risk, so never fill higher than the top of the wall.
Sight rails should be installed on above-ground walls. These rails indicate the location of the wall to the tractor operator, but they are not intended to hold an over-turning tractor.
Install lights to the rail if filling will occur at night.
When filling bunker silos and drive-over piles, pack tractor operators should always form a progressive wedge of forage, which provides a minimum slope of 1 to 3 for packing.
To reduce the risk of a tractor rollover, it is important to maintain a minimum slope of 1 to 3 on the sides and ends of a drive-over pile.
Tractors should be backed up steep slopes to prevent rollbacks.
Use low-clearance, wide-front-end tractors equipped with well-lugged tires to prevent slipping.
Add wheel weights and weights to the front and back of the tractors to improve stability.
When using front-end loaders to move forage to the bunker or pile, do not elevate the bucket any higher than necessary, thereby helping to keep the center of gravity low.
When 2 or more pack tractors are used, establish a driving procedure to prevent collisions.

Truck Rollovers

Trucks can overturn on steep forage slopes, particularly if the forage is not loaded and packed uniformly.
Raise the dump body only while the truck is on a firm surface to prevent an overturn.
As the bed is raised for unloading, it is important that the load center of gravity stay between the frame rails of the truck frame.
Trucks are less stable as the bed is raised, particularly if the surface is not perfectly flat.
A tire rut or depression from a previous load, low tires on one side of a truck, uneven loading of a truck, or a wind gust increase the risk of a truck tipping over during unloading, especially when 2 or more of these hazards combine at a single time point.

Reduce Risks

Keep machine guards and shields in place to protect the operator from an assortment of rotating shaft, chain, and V-belt drives; gears and pulleys; and rotating knives on forage harvesters, wagons, and silage feeding equipment.
Keep nonworkers away from traffic areas.
Never allow people on foot (especially children) near the moving harvest and transport equipment in the field or people on foot near a bunker silo or drive-over pile during filling or feed-out. (4) Adjust rear-view mirrors.
When inspection or servicing work is needed, shut down the engine and remove and pocket the keys to prevent accidental starting by another person.
Mount and dismount the tractor or forage harvester using a debris-free access ladder and steps and handholds. Maintain a 3-point contact as you climb and always face the machine.
Stop the machine before lubricating, adjusting, inspecting, or unplugging. Wait for the cutter head to come to a complete stop before adjusting or unplugging.
Never approach the blades of a silage defacer while the machine is in operation.
Wear snug clothing.
Use reverse alarm devices or a remote video camera on large or oversized machines to increase visibility and warn others that you are operating the equipment in a reverse direction.
Use standard agricultural hand signals to communicate with others when operating machinery or when helping with machinery movement.
Monitor weather and field conditions as they relate to safety and adjust the harvest accordingly.
Be sure all equipment operators are competent and trained for the jobs they are doing.
Employers should remind forage harvester, truck, and tractor operators to be careful, use seat belts, and never take unnecessary risks. The reminder should be made at the beginning of every working day.

Watch Out for Silo Gases

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

Silage-making season is here, and with it comes the need for heightened safety awareness.

According to the Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation , there are many types of gases produced by silage, some of which can be dangerous.

Nitrogen dioxide is a potentially toxic gas produced during silo filling and ensiling. It is a reddish-orange to yellowish-brown, heavier-than-air gas that smells like laundry bleach. It may be encountered in bunker, pile, or upright silos, as well as feed rooms, livestock housing, or open lots.

Inhaling nitrogen dioxide can cause permanent lung damage and sudden death. It is most likely to accumulate in the first 24 to 72 hours after silage is made, but can persist for up to 3 weeks. Leave the area immediately if you see or smell the evidence of nitrogen dioxide.

Carbon dioxide can build to lethal levels in upright silos. If at all possible, stay out of tower silos for 3 weeks after filling.

If it is necessary to enter the silo, ventilate the area in advance by running the forage blower for 15 to 20 minutes with the door closest to the top of the silo open. Always wear a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) when entering. Common dust masks or chemical cartridge respirators will NOT provide enough protection from carbon dioxide. Also wear a safety harness and a lifeline with another person monitoring on the outside.

If you have a cough or sore throat after working with silage, visit a doctor or emergency room immediately and tell them you have been potentially exposed to silo gas. Lung irritation and fluid build-up in the lungs also can be fatal, or cause serious, permanent lung damage.

Livestock also can be overcome by silo gases, so housing areas should be well-ventilated to avoid gas build-up.

For more on farm safety, read:

A Second Set of Eyes

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

Security cameras help dairies know what cows, employees and visitors are up to

Day or night, Mike Veeman can see just about anyone or anything on his Colorado dairy. Whether it’s in his milking parlor, driveway, feed barns or other buildings, and whether it involves cows, employees or visitors, Veeman knows what’s going on—in real time.

With 20 video surveillance cameras stationed at key points on his dairy, Veeman has a tool he says helps him increase productivity, maintain a safe work environment, verify animal welfare and manage several levels of security and risk.

“I can be in four or five places at once,” Veeman says. “Having a camera security system is cost-effective as well. It gives you an edge and peace of mind. It allows you to multi-task.”

Video surveillance has come a long way since Veeman and Sons Dairy installed its first camera 40 years ago. Back then, the Veemans’ one camera operated on an analog system using videotape and often produced poor-quality footage. Today’s video cameras produce high-quality digital images that are viewed on computers, smartphones and tablets.

Veeman needs that second set of eyes to help him manage his family’s fifth-generation operation. The dairy milks 2,000 cows, employs 26 people and farms 1,300 of the operation’s 5,000 acres near Wiggins, Colo.

Bonus Content

See Veeman and Perez presentations on dairy security cameras

Valley Ag Software – Security

“I’m looking at the screen all the time,” Veeman says. “I see visitors, vets, employees, who’s in the high-flow areas, who’s outside of the office, who’s going into the parlor. I always know who’s on the place.”

Dairies typically share common reasons for using video surveillance, says Manuel Perez, network video administrator with Valley Ag Software in Tulare, Calif. The company has installed camera security systems at dairies in several states.

“A camera security system addresses problems with theft, vandalism and employee management, and offers facility monitoring and remote accessibility,” Perez says.

Dairy owners install cameras wherever security is paramount. “The milking parlor is usually priority No. 1,” Perez says.

Other surveillance areas include tank rooms, calf barns, maternity areas, medicine rooms, commodity barns, break rooms, time clock areas, driveways, parking lots and high-
traffic areas inside buildings.

“Each producer has his own custom way of how he or she wants surveillance done,” Perez says. “They may want to know what time drivers are showing up or whether they’re following correct procedures for filling up milk tanks. They may want to know who else is driving onto the dairy or what time people are coming in to work.”

Today’s digital camera systems not only produce high-definition color images that appear in real time. They can also be viewed in play-back, fast-forward or slow-motion mode. Motion sensors can be set on cameras to send alerts—with a jpeg image of the activity—to a computer or phone when there’s movement in places like the medicine room or shop.

With remote accessibility, dairy managers can see what’s going on in the milking parlor, barns and pens while they’re at home or even on the other side of the world. Remote footage that’s sent over the Internet is encrypted and cannot be hacked.

Video cameras are usually set up on a network that extends from building to building or over many miles. During a recent presentation at the Elite Producer Business Conference in Las Vegas, Perez showed live video feed from a California dairy. He demonstrated how a camera mounted on the exterior of a building could zoom in on pens and cows, and even move in a 180-degree sweep to scan a broad swath of driveway, corrals and other property.

A security camera mounted above the clock on the far end of the milking parlor helps the dairy owner spot whether cows are being dipped and milked properly, and how employees interact with animals.

At Veeman’s dairy, the camera system plays a big role in identifying training opportunities, ensuring that standard operating procedures are followed, observing team interaction and keeping an eye on equipment and machinery.

“We have a rotary milking parlor,” Veeman says. “The cameras allow me to know whether it’s functioning properly. Is it running at proper speed? Is there a cow in every stall? Are employees working together as they’re supposed to? Are they doing dangerous things? That’s huge on a rotary. We want to make sure they don’t get hurt.”

The cameras allow Veeman to watch how employees interact with cows. “Animal welfare is not just a flavor of the month on our dairy,” he says. “It’s always been important to us. We don’t want unacceptable behavior. We want people working for us who want to work with animals.”

Veeman also has security cameras at his commodity area. “We have a lot of investment there,” he says. “Is feed being unloaded or scaled out correctly? If things disappear or we see someone who doesn’t belong, we have a better idea of what’s going on.”

A camera security system can’t just be a record-and-ignore operation, Veeman cautions. “It has to be integral to your management scheme,” he says. “If you don’t look at the footage, the system isn’t going to solve problems.”

Because the camera security is so important to his dairy, and because the technology keeps getting better,Veeman plans to expand his video surveillance system.

“Producers around the country are discovering that a video surveillance system is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” Perez says.

Video Surveillance Basics

The basics needed for a video surveillance system with remote accessibility are a computer, an external hard drive for digital information storage, the cameras and Internet access, says Manuel Perez of Valley Ag Software in Tulare, Calif.

Modern systems don’t require additional software or coaxial cable. Cameras operate with Category 5 cable, a “Power over Ethernet” technology.

The heavy-duty cameras recommended for dairies cost about $600 each. While every system is different, Perez estimates that the bill for a complete video surveillance system with eight cameras, including installation, can cost about $10,000.

Video footage can be reviewed as far back as six weeks. Footage can be downloaded and stored on a computer hard drive. A six-camera system might hold 4 terabytes, or 4,000 gigabytes, of digital information. Images contain a date and time stamp.

Where and Why Your Dairy Might Need a Camera Security System

Video surveillance expert Manuel Perez of Valley Ag Software lists the places and reasons he typically sees for installing a camera security system on a dairy:

Milking parlor:
Are employees following proper parlor protocols and procedures?
• Are they beating cows?
• Are the workers playing around or risking possible injury or workmen’s compensation claims?
• Employee management

Tank room:
• When is the driver getting there?
• Is he following the correct procedure?
• Is milk being weighed properly?
• Are drivers or employees cleaning up properly?

Maternity:
• Is the cow giving birth?
• Is someone tending to the calves?
• Is someone there feeding calves at proper times?
• Is the employee dipping navels properly and following all other procedures?
• Allows owner or staff to monitor calving, and then go out at the proper time instead of too early

Feed lanes:
• What time are cows being fed?
• Is feed being pushed up?
• Are the cows eating?

Feed commodities:
• Allows monitoring for theft
• Remote accessibility can provide motion alerts and an e-mail with an image of the scene

Medicine room:
• Who is going in and out, and at what times?

Shop area:
• To make sure employees are complying with dairy rules and workmen’s compensation procedures
• Theft monitoring
• Safety monitoring
• Who is there?
• Helps with insurance and lower premiums

6 Ways to Stay Safe on a Dairy

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:31:11 GMT

Dangerous bulls, heavy machinery and treacherous manure pits can all pose hazards on a dairy. Follow these safety precautions.

Dangerous bulls, heavy machinery and treacherous manure pits can all pose hazards on a dairy. Because accidents, injuries and even deaths have occurred on dairies, it’s essential to stress safety with employees, says Dr. Gerald Higginbotham, ruminant business manager with Micronutrients and former dairy extension advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension.

Higginbotham suggests these safety precautions:

1. Stay on guard around those animals. “Dairy bulls are not to be trusted, in spite of their docile appearance,” Higginbotham says. “They can move quite rapidly and with force.” Designated escape exits located in fences or corrals should be made known to all workers. A cow with a newborn calf can be very defensive when the calf is removed from the pen. Cows have a panoramic field of vision but can’t see behind their rear legs. Sudden movements or noises from the rear can provoke a kick. Cows generally kick forward and outward to the side.

2. Keep alert in the milk barn. The force of crowd gates and entry/exit gates powered by hydraulic rams, air cylinders or electric motors must be respected. Avoid being trapped between a fence and an opening gate pushed by passing cows. Fingers and hands resting on milk pit curbs can be stepped on or kicked by cows. If feed augers are used to convey grain to cows in the milking barn, use caution of moving parts if it is necessary to unjam stuck feed. Small children in the milking area can cause distractions and injuries. Overly loud radios can mask noises of malfunctioning equipment or cries for help in accidental situations.

3. Take care with cleaning. “Chemicals for cleaning milking equipment are safe if label directions are followed,” says Higginbotham. “Proper amounts and mixing procedures are very important.” Rubber or plastic aprons and gloves can protect clothes and skin, while eye shields and face masks are recommended. Dangerous fumes will result from adding caustic chemicals to hot water or adding chlorine to acid rinses. Hot scalding water should also be considered a hazard. Teat dips, as well as cleaning chemicals, can cause allergic reactions in some people and gloves are advised. All workers should know location of the electrical main, gas and water valves, and release valves on hot water heaters.

4. Pay attention when operating equipment. Belt-driven compressors, vacuum pumps and PTO shafts should have guards placed over and around them. “Be mindful that loose clothing may easily get caught in any moving equipment part, which could cause the loss of a limb,” says Higginbotham. Mixer trucks or wagons must be off and the starter secured before entering the mixer box. Silage “avalanches” have resulted in deaths as well as serious injuries, including permanent spinal cord damage. Use a loader with a roll-over protection cover (ROPS) cab, or, at a minimum, a ROPS with side screens, for silage removal. This will provide some protection for the operator if an avalanche occurs. Let other workers know about the dangers of being in close proximity to the silage face.

5. Use extreme caution in manure storage areas. Many dangers can exist concerning manure storage areas. Toxic gases produced from these areas can pose a health threat to humans and animals. Deaths occur every year on dairies where dairy employees are working around manure storage facilities. An air respirator is recommended for those who may need to enter manure containment areas. “Always use the buddy system so as to have someone call for help if the need arises,” says Higginbotham.

6. Be prepared. Precautions and knowing what to do in case of emergency can prevent accidents and injuries. “All persons working on the dairy should have a basic knowledge of first aid and where first aid kits are located,” Higginbotham says. “All should be instructed on when to dial the 911 emergency phone number.”

Dressing for the Job on Dairies

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:29:56 GMT

Wearing the proper attire on the dairy is important to farm safety.
By: Tracey Erickson, SDSU Extension Dairy Field Specialist

We often check the weather before heading out the door and decide if we need a coat or not. But is the clothing we are wearing protecting us or could it add increased risk as we perform our job? A good share of producers on dairy farms, are now providing their employees with some type of uniform. As a dairy producer there are some things to consider as you select your personal attire or that of your employees.

Let’s start at the top

A lot of work on modern dairy farms is inside, and wearing baseball caps or stocking caps does provide some protection from the elements. However, if you are going to be outside for more than an hour, even on cloudy days you will want to consider wearing a hat with a brim around the entire cap, to give you some protection from UV rays and potential skin-damaging sunburn. Your eyes are also important and safety goggles or glasses should be required by all employees. Employees often deal with many different chemicals or hazardous objects that have the potential to “propel” and could possibly end up in the eye. There are many different types available in the market. However, if they are not comfortable and affordable they will not be purchased or worn.

Dressing in layers is important

Employees and producers are often exposed to varied risks within their job. Clothing should be fairly tight fitting, free of tears or strings that can become entangled in PTO’s or caught on equipment. Durability along with breathability is important when selecting fabric. Remind employees, that when they are buying coveralls to take into account being able to put layers of clothes underneath them. Even though we want clothing that fits and is not baggy, it needs to allow the person to sit, stretch, squat, and bend.

Proper footwear is essential

Oftentimes, we talk about wearing leather boots and hard soles to protect our feet in case an animal steps on them or while operating equipment. However, leather may not provide the best protection if the primary job of the employee deals with a lot of moisture and chemicals, such as the milking parlor or the free-stall barn. Rubber boots with non-skid sole, and some arch support are good choices, as they protect the foot from excess moisture and can be easily cleaned. Steel toed rubber boots, should be considered if available, as they add extra protection if stepped on by an animal. Socks that help wick moisture away from the foot are also important; otherwise employees could end up with athlete’s foot due to the high moisture environments that they work in.

Consider hand protection

We often do not think about our hands, but on a dairy, employees working in the milking parlor should wear rubber gloves. The increased amount of moisture exposure and chemicals used in pre and post dipping of the udder and sanitation of the equipment will damage the skin. If employees are not working with chemicals, gloves that protect the hand from the elements are ok. There are many styles, including cotton, leather, rubber, nylon, or a combination. Things to consider are fit, durability, protection provided given the hot or cold environment, and price.

Other considerations

Other protective items that should be provided to employees are dust masks because of the dirt, dust, and molds in the environment in which work is being performed.

Lastly, one thing not often thought about is sunscreen. Even though this is technically not a type of clothing, it is still an important piece on the attire that should be worn with constant exposure to the sun.

Stay Silage Safe – In Honor of Keith Bolsen

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 17:00:00 GMT

Silage-making season is upon us. It’s a harried time of year with all hands – and sometimes even extra hands – on deck.

No one loved silage more than Keith Bolsen, Professor Emeritus of Cattle Nutrition at Kansas State University. He studied and researched the feedstuff his entire professional life – how to make it, enhance it, pack it, seal it, and feed it out. But above all else, Bolsen was concerned about silage safety.

Keith Bolsen passed away suddenly in May 2020. But his legacy of silage-safety education and promotion lives on. He devoted the later years of his career to that mission, establishing the Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation with his wife, Ruthie, in 2017.

Bolsen cautioned that silage-making season was a particularly dangerous time. Schedule intensity, bringing in extra help, multiple pieces of equipment running at once, exhaustion, and complacency all can lead to tragic results.

But on the positive side, he also appreciated that the practices that produce quality silage also produce safe silage. Proper packing and sealing of bunkers and drive-over piles can help minimize – but not completely prevent – the risk of silage collapses.

Among Bolsen’s tips for preventing tragedies related to silage avalanches and collapses were:

Develop written silage safety policies and procedures, and hold regularly scheduled meetings with the entire silage production and feeding team.
Do not fill bunker silos and drive-over piles higher than the unloading equipment can reach safely – typically about 13-16 feet.
Never stand closer to the face than a distance of three times its height.
Always follow the “buddy rule” and never work alone at a bunker or pile. Suffocation has likely been the cause of death in most avalanche accidents.
Never drive the unloader parallel to the feed-out face.
Do not climb to the top and “pitch” surface spoilage.
Do not take samples directly from the face. Collect a batch into a loader bucket or pile and gather samples there.
Post warning signs around the perimeter of bunkers and piles: “Danger! Silage Face May Collapse.”
Never allow people to approach the feed-out face.
Avoid being complacent and thinking an avalanche cannot happen to you.

Bolsen’s mission was to “send everyone home safe.” He said all of the efforts that dairies and feedlots expend to grow and process high-quality silage are meaningless if safety is not also a priority. “Safety trumps everything else,” he declared.

One of Bolsen’s most recent education efforts prior to his death was to encourage dairies and feedlots to take a small portion of land out of production to expand their silage-storage areas. By allocating more space for bunkers and drive-over piles, heights and overfilling could be lessened; silage quality improved; and safety hazards reduced.

Nutritionists can play a valuable role in reminding crews to practice silage safety; writing safety protocols; and providing on-farm training. A wealth of resources, including a members-only training video, can be found on the Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation website, https://www.silagesafety.org/ .

OSHA’s “Dairy Dozen”

Wed, 12 May 2021 18:09:23 GMT

Farming is among the most dangerous occupations in the United States, and dairy farming presents even more hazards than crop farming due to animals, feed and on-farm chemicals that are handled daily.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has focused specifically on dairy farms over the past several years in New York and Wisconsin. This effort put OSHA in direct contact with dairy farmers to discuss safety hazards on dairies and explore improvements to prevent worker injury and death.

As a result, OSHA has identified the top 12 safety concerns on dairies , which they have coined the “dairy dozen.” They include:

Manure storage and collection facilities.
Dairy bull and cow movement and worker position.
Electrical systems.
Skid steer loader operation.
Tractor operation.
Power take-offs.
Other power transmission and functional components.
Hazardous energy while servicing and maintaining equipment.
On-farm chemicals.
Confined spaces.
Horizontal bunker silos.
Noise.

Hazardous chemicals (#9) are particularly abundant on dairy farms. These include teat dips; sanitizing acids and detergents; foot bath treatments; degreasers, oil-based paint, diesel fuel, and gasoline. Nearly one third of employees interviewed during recent OSHA inspections of more than 100 dairy farms nationwide said they were not informed about the hazards of the chemicals they used.

Employers are required to train each employee regarding the proper use, storage, protective equipment, and mitigation measures for individual chemicals. Each hazardous chemical should have a safety data sheet (SDS) on file on the farm, as well as a written Hazard Communication plan. Included in this plan should be clear instructions on what to do in case of a chemical spill or direct contact with the chemical.

The other, most common violations OSHA recently has cited on dairies are failure to guard rotating shafts, power take-offs, and chain sprockets.

OSHA does not have the authority to inspect all dairies, but generally facilities with 10 or more non-family employees may be subject to inspection. Many trade associations and state agencies offer assistance to help farmers develop farm safety and health programs. These services may include mock OSHA walk-throughs and written templates that can be customized to write farm safety plans. More information on locating these services can be found here .

The National Dairy FARM Program also provides numerous safety resources, including a safety training resource page and online safety reference manual . Resources specific to silage safety have been developed by the Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation .

Cargill, Inc. also provides an interactive, online Actionable Safety Review that queries dairy managers about specific safety hazard areas on their farms, and provides guidance for addressing them and developing comprehensive dairy farm safety plans.

What Should You Do if Your Farm Employees Test Positive for COVID-19?

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 16:56:31 GMT

Once your employee is home and in self-isolation, the National Pork Board recommends these steps to prevent further transmission in the workplace.

1. Wait approximately 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting.

Begin cleaning and disinfecting all areas used by the sick person, as well as common areas and high hand contact areas regularly. A simple bleach solution or other disinfectants may be used according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

2. Pay special note when cleaning your operation to these areas:

Bathrooms
Breakrooms
Shared workspaces and equipment
Door handles, light switches, refrigerators, microwaves/ovens, coffeemakers, etc.

3. Launder the positive employees’ clothing separate from other employees and consider leaving clothing for a least a day before having others use them.

4. Implement additional practices to further prevent transmission such as social distancing and use of face coverings when social distancing is not possible.

For more information and resources, visit cdc.gov .

Dairy Dust Not Likely Hazard

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:59:48 GMT

Concentrations fall off rapidly at further distances

Studies by USDA indicate the dust stirred up by wind and restless cattle at dairies does contain bacteria, fungi and small bacterial remnants such as endotoxins. But these potentially problematic particles are not found at high levels far beyond the barnyard.

Bonus Content

Links to research

Concentrations of airborne endotoxin and microorganisms

Rob Dungan, microbiologist at USDA’s Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Lab in Kimberly, Idaho, set up three sampling sites at a 10,000-cow, open-freestall dairy to study airborne endotoxins and culturable microorganisms.

The researchers found that average inhalable airborne endotoxin concentrations were five endotoxin units (EU) per cubic meter of air 655' upwind of the barn—their “background” levels—and 426 and 56 EU per cubic meter of air 165' and 655' downwind of the barn, respectively.

Close to the barn, endotoxin concentrations at night were significantly higher than in the morning and similar to afternoon levels. The scientists attribute the higher levels to increased animal activity and lower wind speeds during these times. But at the other two locations, endotoxin concentrations did not vary significantly over 24 hours.

Samples of bacterial concentrations showed a similar pattern with the highest counts—84,000 colonies per cubic meter of air—measured near the barn. The other two sites had less than 8,000 colonies per cubic meter of air.

As with the daily endotoxin concentrations, bacterial concentrations near the barn increased significantly at night, but concentrations further downwind did not.—USDA Agricultural Research Service

Coroner: Manure Tank Fumes Kill Wisconsin Farmer, 13 Cows

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:59:25 GMT

A coroner says a Wisconsin farmer and more than a dozen cattle died when they became overcome by fumes from a huge manure holding tank.

WAOW-TV reports that 29-year-old Michael Biadasz was found by other farm workers early Monday when they arrived at Biadasz Farms near Amherst to haul away manure from the football field-sized tank.

Portage County Coroner Scott Rifleman said Tuesday that the deaths of Biadasz and at least 13 cows are under investigation, but that they were probably overcome by methane or sulfur oxide. Rifleman says the farmer agitated the tank and that this, along with warm upper air temperatures, created a deadly dome of air.

Other cows were also sickened by the fumes.

Amherst is about 140 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

Dairy Talk: The Terrorists Amongst Us

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:56:40 GMT

While there hasn’t been an attack of international terrorism on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001, that doesn’t mean U.S. citizens—farmers included—should assume it can’t happen again.

“Terrorists, be they cells, groups or individuals, are committed to their cause, and they are resourceful, patient, persistent and prepared for a long war of attrition,” says Stephen Goldsmith, a veterinarian with the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate-Biological Countermeasures Unit.

There are seven key signs to watch for:

Surveillance of your operation. If you see unfamiliar vehicles or people repeatedly driving by your facility or at odd times of the day, they should be reported to officials.
Employees who are being elicited for help to gain access to your facilities, or to bring substances on to the premise.
Tests of security of the facility.
Acquiring unusual supplies or capabilities.
Suspicious persons out of place.
Dry runs to gain access.
Damage to property or assets.

“And we have to realize that agriculture is a target,” he says. “Three strands of barbed wire will not protect cattle from Al Qaeda.”

In reality, though, Al Qaeda isn’t your biggest threat, nor should it be your biggest worry. In fact, threats from radicalized animal rights and environmental groups might be of greater concern.

“The domestic threat in some ways is more critical than international,” he says. “Animal rights and environmental groups have committed more acts of terrorism than Al Qaeda [on U.S. soil],” Goldsmith says.

The most likely threat is a biological agent deployed against livestock or crops, such as:

A chemical contaminant placed in feed.
Radiological or nuclear material that would be used to destroy or contaminate soil or livestock.
Introduction of exotic plant diseases.
Introduction of a zoonotic disease that affects both animals and humans. Ebola is a classic example.
The spread of an emerging disease, such blue tongue.
The introduction of a foreign animal disease in the U.S., such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

And it would be relatively easy to do. Throwing an FMD-infected sock over the fence into a pen of heifers could quickly infect an entire herd.

Just one case of FMD would shut down all animal exports. And it could take months—perhaps years—to contain the disease and restore confidence in the safety of U.S. food exports.

If you have any doubt, look to England and its experience with FMD. It took months to depopulate infected herds and years to restore export markets.

Farmers have to be the first line of defense in protecting their farms and livestock, Goldsmith says. So farmers need to be aware of potential threats, know the symptoms of emerging and foreign animal diseases and recognize signs of intentional disruptions to their operations.

They then need to immediately report any unusual disease triggers to their veterinarian and local authorities. “These dots of information have to be reported and entered into the security system for threats to be recognized,” Goldsmith says.

There is only one way to keep us safe: If you see something, say something.

OSHA Cites Company after Worker Death in Nebraska

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:49:54 GMT

Federal officials have cited a company for safety violations following a worker’s death in Nebraska.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration says Wisconsin-based Double Dutch Dairy has four serious safety violations. Officials issued $22,500 in fines.

A worker in the company’s Shelby location was killed in June after being struck by a front-end loader hauling hay. Officials say an inspection after the death showed the driver’s view was obstructed.

OSHA says employees were exposed to certain hazards and were neither trained in safe equipment operation nor required to use seat belt restraints.

A voicemail inbox for Double Dutch Dairy’s Rising City, Nebraska, location is full. The company has 15 business days to comply or contest the violations. It can also meet with an OSHA official.

Safety

Spring is the Time to Inspect Silage Storage

Oxygen is the Biggest Threat

Inspect Bunkers Before Filling

Bags and Piles Need the Right Location

Silos Require Routine Checks

Safety Remains a Top Priority

Small Repairs Can Protect Valuable Feed

How to Prevent Needlestick Injuries in Livestock Practice

Immediate Response: Slow Down and Assess

Not All Products Carry Equal Risk

Why Human Medicine May Struggle to Advise

Prevention Starts Before the Stick

Take It Seriously

Employer of Fatal Colorado Dairy Accident Addresses Rumors and OSHA Citations

New Details: Devastating Dairy Farm Accident in Colorado Kills Six

Silage Season Is No Time for Silly Safety Shortcuts

It's Hot Out There: Avoid Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion This Summer

Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety

Be on Watch

Reflecting on 25 Years

Asian Longhorned Tick Now Found in 19 States

Take a Buddy with You to the Bunker

For more on silage, read:

John Phipps: What We Still Don't Know About PFAS

Keep Farm Employees Safe Around Large Equipment

Poor Air Quality from Wildfire Smoke can put Livestock, Pets at Risk

Dairy Gas Safety Video for On-Farm Employees

For more on farm safety, read:

What We Now Know About What Caused the Large Fire at a Texas Dairy Farm

Read More: Large Explosion and Fire Breaks Out at South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt, Texas Monday Night

The Cloud of Black Smoke

Community Pours in With Support for Dairy Farm Family

Nearly Fatal Farm Accident Causes this Farmer to Count Her Blessings

Stay Safe this Silage Harvest Season

Tractor Rollovers

Truck Rollovers

Reduce Risks

Watch Out for Silo Gases

For more on farm safety, read:

A Second Set of Eyes

Security cameras help dairies know what cows, employees and visitors are up to

Bonus Content

Video Surveillance Basics

Where and Why Your Dairy Might Need a Camera Security System

6 Ways to Stay Safe on a Dairy

Dangerous bulls, heavy machinery and treacherous manure pits can all pose hazards on a dairy. Follow these safety precautions.

Dressing for the Job on Dairies

Let’s start at the top

Dressing in layers is important

Proper footwear is essential

Consider hand protection

Other considerations

Stay Silage Safe – In Honor of Keith Bolsen

OSHA’s “Dairy Dozen”

What Should You Do if Your Farm Employees Test Positive for COVID-19?

Dairy Dust Not Likely Hazard

Concentrations fall off rapidly at further distances

Bonus Content

Coroner: Manure Tank Fumes Kill Wisconsin Farmer, 13 Cows

Dairy Talk: The Terrorists Amongst Us

There are seven key signs to watch for:

OSHA Cites Company after Worker Death in Nebraska