Ag committee approves farm safety bill

Although 2 percent of Minnesota’s labor force works in agriculture, 30 percent of the state’s workplace deaths in 2014 took place in agricultural jobs.

That fact is contained in a report issued earlier this year after the 2016 Legislature directed the Department of Agriculture to study and provide recommendations to improve safety on the farm. An informal collaboration between state officials, educators, business and agriculture representatives came together in a working group that assisted the department.

The House Agriculture Finance Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would formally establish that Farm Safety Working Group and also create a safety educator position with the University of Minnesota Extension.

Rep. Clark Johnson

Sponsored by Rep. Clark Johnson (DFL-North Mankato), HF1192 would create a 16-member group to advise the department and Legislature on farm safety issues and coordinate improvement efforts. It would also appropriate $100,000 for safety program and education grants, and $300,000 for the university to establish the extension position.

The bill was referred to the House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance Committee. The companion, SF1048, is sponsored by Sen. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) and awaits action by the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development and Housing Finance Authority.

Johnson said between 2011 and 2014 there were 78 deaths in Minnesota related to working on the farm, a number he called “startling,” and said the state has had “kind of a checkered past” when it comes to addressing farm safety.

“We’ve got farm place and workplace safety issues and it’s time to address it now,” Johnson said.

HF1192 would direct the working group to monitor the impact of farm safety initiatives and explore the idea of creating a farm safety certification program to recognize and identify financial incentives for farmers who meet safety standards.

Rep. Debra Kiel (R-Crookston), concerned about regulations going too far, asked whether there had been an increase in farm accidents.

Assistant Agriculture Commissioner Andrea Vaubel said the number of accidents ebbs and flows, but with the average age of the state’s farmers climbing, the problem would continue to worsen. 

Johnson told the committee he recently met a man who lost his son to a farm accident, and said he didn’t want to ever forget the toll these accidents could take.

“It really compels us to move forward,” Johnson said.