Agriculture remains one of the most hazardous occupations. A new initiative from the Division of Extension is giving the power of safety training directly to farmers. The bilingual Forward Farm Safety Toolbox has launched to help farms build a stronger safety culture without a traditional lecture.
The program was developed in response to a common dilemma, explains Farm Management Program Manager Trisha Wagner. While farmers are eager to train their staff, the relentless pace of farm life often makes formal schooling impossible. Extension recognizes that farmers don’t need outsiders to tell them where the risks are. Farmers need the tools to communicate those risks to their teams effectively.
“The employees and the farmer themselves, they are the experts of the dangers or the hazards on their farms,” Wagner notes. “It’s really helping give them the tools and guidance to have productive and efficient conversations.”
Unlike traditional, lecture-like safety presentations, the toolbox utilizes interactive modules. The first two modules released, skid-steer loader training and animal handling, were selected based on direct requests from local producers. These guides allow farmers to conduct training during natural breaks in the workday, focusing on the specifics of their property.
Support comes from a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program grant. The initiative aims to expand to 12 priority areas. Beyond physical safety, the program emphasizes that engaging employees in these discussions is a proven method for improving workplace morale and long-term retention.
“This is for the trainer,” says Alison Pfau, a bilingual regional dairy educator. “This is going to be a very good tool for them to use at the farm. So they don’t have to wait for us to do these kinds of programs.”
Extension is hosting a test and feedback session in mid-March to ensure the bilingual tools meet the needs of Wisconsin’s agricultural workforce.
See the modules: https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/forward-farm-safety-toolbox/
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