By Phil Kaatz
In late summer of 2023, a 23-year-old farm worker was found entangled in a running baler—alone in the field, the machine still running. His death was preventable. This tragedy highlights a critical truth: forage harvester and baler safety are non-negotiable.
Spring and summer are the times when harvesting forages turn into a race between quality and quantity. Often this race gets squeezed into a small window of opportunity before a rain event can spoil forage quality and/or quantity. When this happens, farmers may start to hurry to beat the raindrops. In my experience as a Michigan State University Extension educator, when farmers feel a sense of urgency, this is when accidents may be more frequent. Small steps may be missed, and important safety steps skipped because rain is coming!
Forage production is done with powerful equipment that cuts, crushes, chops and compresses large volumes of material. Whether you are a large or small farm, you need to respect the equipment you work around. Do not become complacent and let your guard down when it comes to safety.