AgriSafe Learning
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/26/2025 at 1:00 PM (CDT)
ATVs and UTVs are widely used in rural areas but are a leading cause of injury and death, particularly on public roads where they are not designed to operate. Despite safety warnings, more communities are legalizing their use on roadways. This webinar explores the risks of on-road ATV/UTV use, design-related safety concerns, and strategies rural families can use to prevent crashes and injuries.
Summary: Off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility task vehicles (UTVs) are extremely popular and a common source of injury and death in rural areas, especially farms and ranches. While the use of ATVs/UTVs on public roadways increases the likelihood of a crash with another vehicle, the majority of roadway deaths and an even higher proportion of injuries on public roads are single ATV/UTV crashes not involving another motor vehicle.
ATVs/UTVs are designed for off-road use only, and manufacturers have strongly stated that they should not be operated on public roadways. In fact, the majority of deaths associated with these vehicles occur on public roads. Despite this, an increasing number of states, counties, and municipalities across the country are passing laws allowing ATVs/UTVs to operate on public roadways for transportation and recreational purposes. During this presentation, we will discuss the safety issues surrounding ATVs/UTVs on public roads and, in particular, the design elements of ATVs/UTVs that place their operators at greater risk on public roads. We will discuss how rural families can help protect themselves, their families, and employees from ATV/UTV-related crashes and injury.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- List at least three design features of ATVs and UTVs that contribute to crashes and subsequent injury, and be able to discuss how these features make ATVs/UTVs vulnerable to problems on both paved and unpaved roads.
- Identify at least three other factors that contribute to ATV/UTV-related crashes and injuries, and how they might decrease the risk to themselves, their families, and employees.
- Understand and appreciate ATV/UTV safety messages they might share with others, and how they could be effective advocates for informed safety legislation regarding ATVs/UTVs.
Intended audience: Farmers, ranchers, parents, agriculture production workers, healthcare providers, emergency medical services, public health officials, government and legislative leaders, administrators
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Charles Jennissen, MD
Clinical Professor and Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Charles Jennissen, MD, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and a Clinical Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Dr. Jennissen grew up on a dairy farm in central Minnesota. This plays a large part in his interest in safety and injury prevention, particularly regarding children and teens, and those who work and live on farms. Most of his research activities have addressed injury-related issues, especially those involving off-road vehicles. Dr. Jennissen is very active in the Iowa ATV Safety Taskforce and is a member of a national coalition led by the Consumer Federation of America that has been working to inform the public and governing officials of the dangers of off-road vehicles on public roads. He has been an advisory board member of I-CASH (Iowa Center for Agricultural Safety and Health) for 22 years. He is proud to have received the SAFE KIDS Iowa “People Who Make a Difference” Award in 2006.
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/26/2025 at 11:00 AM (CDT)
Explore the leading causes of injuries and fatalities involving ATVs and UTVs in agricultural settings. Learn practical safety strategies and best practices to help prevent accidents and protect the agricultural community.
Summary: Explore the leading causes of injuries and fatalities involving ATVs and UTVs in agricultural settings. Learn practical safety strategies and best practices to help prevent accidents and protect the agricultural community.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- To raise ATV and UTV owners and operators' awareness of the hazards and promote safe operation of these machines.
Intended audience: Farmers, ranchers, parents, agriculture production workers, healthcare providers, emergency medical services, public health officials, government and legislative leaders, administrators.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Bernard W Kennett (Bernie)
Contract Instructor
New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health "NYCAMH"
Bernie served for 32 years with the New York State Police, specializing in traffic safety and collision reconstruction. For the last 19 years of their career, Bernie held the position of Troop D Traffic Supervisor, where they led efforts to improve roadway safety and reduce traffic-related incidents.
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/25/2025 at 1:00 PM (CDT)
Join AgriSafe for a dynamic and collaborative session focused on strengthening disaster response and recovery efforts in agricultural and rural communities. This think tank will explore existing resources, highlight critical gaps in infrastructure and preparedness, and facilitate a collective dialogue on how to build more resilient systems. Natural disasters can strike without warning, and being prepared can save lives, livelihoods, and communities. Your voice matters in shaping effective responses before, during, and after a disaster. We hope you’ll be part of the conversation
Summary: Join AgriSafe for a dynamic and collaborative session focused on strengthening disaster readiness, response, and recovery efforts in agricultural and rural communities. This think tank will explore existing resources, highlight critical gaps in infrastructure and preparedness, and facilitate a collective dialogue on how to build more resilient systems. Natural disasters can strike without warning, and being prepared can save lives, livelihoods, and communities. Your voice matters in shaping effective responses before, during, and after a disaster. We hope you’ll be part of the conversation.
Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will:
- Understand the current challenges and infrastructure gaps in rural disaster response.
- Identify and describe at least three key resources available for natural disaster recovery.
- Contribute to a collaborative effort to improve disaster preparedness and support systems in agricultural communities.
Intended Audience: Agricultural workers, rural residents, Extension professionals, health and safety advocates, emergency preparedness personnel, and anyone invested in the well-being of agricultural communities
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Natalie Roy, MPH
Chief Executive Officer
AgriSafe Network
As Chief Executive Officer of AgriSafe for over twenty years, Natalie Roy utilizes her public health training to improve the quality of health care offered to farm families. Natalie holds a Masters in Public Health from Tulane University. She is pleased to work in the area of agricultural health as it relates to her experience growing up on a farm in Canterbury New Hampshire.
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/25/2025 at 11:00 AM (CDT)
During this webinar, we will explore the dangers of confined spaces in agriculture, including grain bins and manure pits, and the hazards involved in working with each.
Summary: During this webinar, we will explore the dangers of confined spaces in agriculture, including grain bins and manure pits, and the hazards involved in working with each.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Raise awareness regarding the high incidence of farm injuries and fatalities.
- Increase knowledge of the serious nature of agricultural injuries.
- Increase knowledge of the circumstances that lead to agricultural injuries and fatalities.
- Increase knowledge regarding the difficulties associated with conducting an on the farm incidents.
- Learn how to treat a patient with near-drowning in manure pits.
- Learn to treat someone overcome by Carbon dioxide, H2S, and low oxygen.
Intended audience: Farmers, Ranchers, Agribusiness, and safety personnel
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Dan Neenan, MBA, Paramedic, Fire Instructor
Director
National Education Center for Agricultural Safety
Dan Neenan, MBA -joined the NECAS staff in August of 2002 as Director. Dan is a Paramedic, Firefighter II and EMS instructor. He is currently a member of the Iowa Propane Board. Vice Chair of the Dubuque County Emergency Management Commission, Treasurer, Dubuque County EMS.
In his work at NECAS, Dan has developed several OSHA-approved training programs as well as Agricultural rescue programs. Safety programs include viticulture safety, enology safety, confined space-grain bin entry, Prevention of grain storage fire and explosions, chemical safety, and confined space-manure pit entry. Rescue programs include tractor rollover, combine auger rescue, grain bin rescue, manure pit rescue, and anhydrous ammonia emergency response. To date, the Grain Bin Rescue courses have saved 43 lives nationally.
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/24/2025 at 1:00 PM (CDT)
This webinar will focus on practical strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of youth working on farms, using the Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (AYWG) and the Hired Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (HAYWG). This will underscore the importance of aligning job tasks with a child's developmental abilities, rather than age alone, to prevent injury and promote a safe working environment.
Summary: This webinar will focus on practical strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of youth working on farms, using the Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (AYWG) and the Hired Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (HAYWG). This will underscore the importance of aligning job tasks with a child's developmental abilities, rather than age alone, to prevent injury and promote a safe working environment.
Through real-life examples, current data, and evidence-based guidelines, this session will help participants evaluate tasks, implement safer work practices, and understand federal and state labor laws related to youth in agriculture. Special attention is given to preventing injuries involving tractors, machinery, and hazardous work that young children may not be developmentally ready to perform
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to...
- Recognize the Risks: Identify the leading causes of youth injury and fatality on farms, especially related to age-inappropriate tasks.
- Understand the Guidelines: Gain familiarity with the Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (AYWG) and the Hired Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (HAYWG) tools for matching farm tasks with a youth’s age and developmental stage.
- Apply Development-Based Safety Practices: Use evidence-based resources to determine whether a young person is physically, cognitively, and emotionally prepared to safely perform specific agricultural tasks.
- Comply with Labor Laws: Understand how to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and any relevant state laws regarding youth employment in agriculture.
- Implement Practical Safety Steps: Learn actionable strategies to reduce risks on the farm, such as supervision protocols, training, safety checklists, and equipment restrictions for young workers.
- Promote a Culture of Safety: Encourage a mindset that prioritizes youth safety and supports long-term injury prevention and responsible mentorship on farms.
Intended audience: Farm parents and agricultural employers who hire youth workers.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Melissa Ploeckelman Brown
Outreach Specialist
National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety (NCCRAHS)
Melissa Ploeckelman Brown is a powerhouse of passion and purpose, serving as the Outreach Specialist for the National Farm Medicine Center and the National Children’s Center for Rural Agricultural Health and Safety. Before she was spreading the word about farm safety, she spent six years inspiring the next generation as an agriculture instructor, FFA advisor, and Youth Apprenticeship coordinator in the Colby School District. Melissa's roots run deep—literally. Raised on her family’s dairy farm in Stetsonville (where she still jumps in to help), she’s been living and breathing agriculture her whole life. A proud 2010 grad of UW–River Falls with a degree in agricultural education, Melissa’s leadership shone early on when she served as the 2006–2007 State FFA Parliamentarian, was crowned 2008 Marathon County Fairest of the Fairs, and went on to become the 2009 State Fairest of the Fairs in Wisconsin. Today, Melissa is on a mission to keep farm families safe, one story at a time. Whether she’s in the classroom, the barn, or the garden, she’s always planting seeds of awareness and cultivating safer futures for rural communities.
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/24/2025 at 11:00 AM (CDT)
Communication coaching is a specific program with a method that works with the members of farm teams and farm families to make decision making, goal setting, and conversations in general, better. This presentation will address generational differences, share communication teaching ideas, and discuss a specific 4-session coaching program that participants may be interested in adapting.
Summary: Communication coaching is a specific program with a method that works with the members of farm teams and farm families to make decision making, goal setting, and conversations in general, better. This presentation will address generational differences, share communication teaching ideas, and discuss a specific 4-session coaching program that participants may be interested in adapting.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will:
- Be able to consider generational differences and perspectives, and how communication skills can support people to have better conversations.
- Learn about a specific coaching program designed to identify specific problems and opportunities.
- Learn about activities and strategies used by coaches.
- Understand the benefit of sharing specific communication skills in the interest of promoting harmony across the members of a farm team.
Intended audience:
- Service providers who work with farmers on succession, provide technical assistance, and recognize that oftentimes nothing can happen without first addressing human needs.
- Farmers interested in a big-picture look at farm coaching (this is not a communication workshop).
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Leslie Forstadt, PhD
Extension Professor and Human Development Specialist
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Leslie Forstadt conducts educational programs and research about farm team/farm family balance, communication skills, mindfulness, stress, and resilience. She has been a farm coach since 2018 as co-designer and member of the farm coaching team with UMaine Extension. She is affiliated with the Northeast Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (Cultivemos), is Grant manager of the Maine Agricultural Mediation Program, is a certified Farm Succession Coordinator, and enthusiastic supporter of the well-being of the humans who farm land and sea.
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/23/2025 at 1:00 PM (CDT)
A mother-daughter team (Nurse Practitioner and Agricultural Extension Agent) shares how farm families can protect their legacy by prioritizing mental, emotional, and physical health. Drawing from their own multigenerational experience, they address farm stressors like economic pressure and isolation, offer practical coping tools, and highlight the importance of communication, resilience, and succession planning to support strong, healthy farm families.
Summary: A mother-daughter team (Nurse Practitioner and Agricultural Extension Agent) discusses how farm families can preserve their legacy by prioritizing mental, emotional, and physical health across generations. Representing 2 generations of their farming family, they discuss chronic stressors unique to farm life, including economic pressures and isolation. The presentation offers practical coping strategies, promotes mental health literacy, and emphasizes the importance of open communication, family resilience, and succession planning. The discussion encourages integrating the younger generation through meaningful involvement, innovation, and shared values, while also connecting families to resources and community support systems. By fostering a culture of health and understanding, the presentation empowers farm families to navigate challenges together and secure the future of their farms.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will:
- Recognize the vital role of family farms in sustaining local economies, food systems, and cultural heritage, and identify the emotional and structural threats to farm continuity.
- Understand the ways mental health challenges, including chronic stress, depression, and burnout, affect not only individual farmers but also multigenerational family dynamics and long-term farm viability.
- Identify signs of mental health distress common in agricultural communities and explore strategies to reduce stigma and encourage early intervention and open dialogue.
- Apply simple, effective wellness practices—such as routine, nutrition, rest, spiritual grounding, and communication tools—that can be integrated into daily farm life.
- Promote family-centered resilience by learning techniques that foster generational respect, conflict resolution, and shared decision-making.
- Support succession planning that includes emotional readiness, physical capability, and transparent communication—using available legal and financial tools.
- Connect with local and regional resources—such as cooperative extension services, rural clinics, faith-based groups, and mental health hotlines—that strengthen both individual and community support networks.
Intended audience: Farm families, extension agents, healthcare providers
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Theresa G, Long, DNP, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Riverside Medical Group
Dr. Theresa Long is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who has cared for patients on Virginia’s Eastern Shore since 1999. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health from Rutgers University, a Master of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Virginia.
In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Long is deeply rooted in farm life. She and her husband, a lifelong farmer, have raised eight children together on their family farm. Her firsthand experience navigating the challenges and rewards of rural living brings a personal perspective to her work in health and education.
Theresa Long Pittman
Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Agent
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Theresa Long Pittman holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from Virginia Tech, with minors in Agricultural and Extension Education and Agricultural and Applied Economics. A native of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, she returned to her family’s farm after graduation and began serving as Accomack County’s Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Agent in 2011. She earned her Master’s in Food Safety and Biosecurity in 2016 and brings extensive experience in vegetable and grain production, rooted in her lifelong connection to a multi-generational farming family in Northampton County.
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/23/2025 at 11:00 AM (CDT)
COMET is a direct response to rural community members’ concern about mental health needs. COMET is a community-based intervention to activate community members and provide them with language, tools, and confidence to intervene when they notice someone around them is unwell – and before a mental health crisis occurs. COMET supports community wellness by focusing on the upstream prevention of mental and emotional health crises.
Summary: COMET is a direct response to rural community members’ concerns about mental health needs. COMET is a community-based intervention to activate community members and provide them with language, tools, and confidence to intervene when they notice someone around them is unwell, and before a mental health crisis occurs. COMET supports community wellness by focusing on the upstream prevention of mental and emotional health crises.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will:
- Learn the importance of being "the other person" and the seven-component conversation guide
- Practice with tailored scenarios, share feedback
- Participate in discussions of comfort level and motivation, and review resources
Intended audience: Anyone is welcome. While a range of populations can find COMET very useful, the program is specifically designed for people living in rural communities. In this setting, the training may also be useful for individuals looking to add a training like COMET to their own programming.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Maret Felzien, MA
Faculty
COMET
Maret Felzien has been collaborating and advocating as a community partner in primary care research for over 20 years. With a focus on rural health including work to improve mental health knowledge and access, she strives to bring her lived experiences, practicality and desires for quality care to the work. She is retired from higher education and co-operates the family dryland farm.
Chad Reznicek, MA, LPC
Behavioral Health State Specialist
Colorado AgrAbility Project
Chad Reznicek is the Behavioral Health State Specialist with Colorado State University Extension and the Colorado AgrAbility Project. He is committed to helping expand and improve behavioral health support and resources in rural communities. Prior to joining the AgrAbility Team, Chad spent 20 years as a licensed therapist, providing behavioral health services in diverse settings with special focus areas in suicide prevention, trauma, mood disorders, and substance abuse. Both of Chad’s parents were raised on farms and he grew up in a small town in central Nebraska with a deep respect for agriculture as the heart of our rural communities.
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/22/2025 at 1:00 PM (CDT)
As farms grow and equipment gets larger, ag machinery is spending more time on public roads, raising safety risks for everyone. This session explores how lighting, marking standards, and recent regulations can reduce crashes. It also covers emerging risks tied to trailering, longer routes, and autonomous machinery.
Summary: Tractors and other large ag machines are spending more time on public roads than ever before. As farms expand and equipment grows in size, the risks on rural roadways continue to rise, not just for farmers but for the entire motoring public. This session will explore how design solutions, especially those connected to lighting and marking design standards, reduce collision risk. We'll unpack crash data, examine discrepancies between federal and state requirements, and highlight recent NHTSA regulations that focus national attention on these issues. We'll also explore new risks associated with trailering, longer transport routes, and the safety implications of the accelerating shift toward autonomous and robotic machinery.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe how changes in farm size, equipment design, and changes in rural communities contribute to increased roadway travel and higher collision risk.
- Explain the purpose and impact of consensus design standards and how alignment (or misalignment) with state regulations can influence roadway safety outcomes.
- Identify new roadway safety concerns tied to equipment trailering, larger machines, and longer travel distances across spread-out farm operations.
- Assess how automation and robotics in agriculture will introduce both new risks and promising safety solutions—and how policy, like California's current occupational safety tractor rules, will shape their future use.
Intended audience: Farmers, policymakers, extension educators, engineers from equipment companies, law enforcement, clinicians, health professionals, agricultural association leaders, agribusiness professionals, insurance loss control/underwriters, vo-ag instructors, machinery dealers
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Dr. John Shutske
Agricultural Safety & Health Specialist and Professor,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
John Shutske is a professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and serves as an Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist. He holds an affiliate faculty appointment in the School of Medicine and Public Health. With a Ph.D. from Purdue University, he has over three decades of experience in agricultural safety and health, focusing on safe machinery design, worker education, and risk management. His research has tackled issues of respiratory hazards, dairy worker risks around antibiotic resistance, and stress/suicide prevention in farming communities. Before UW–Madison, he spent 18 years at the University of Minnesota and three at the Illinois Farm Bureau.
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Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 09/22/2025 at 11:00 AM (CDT)
Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations with 1 in 5 agriculture producers being affected by a disability. Transportation incidents, which include tractor overturns and roadway crashes, were the leading cause of death for farmers and farm workers and caused injuries from minor to debilitating. How can we prevent fatalities and injuries? The role of AgrAbility with helping farmers/ranchers to continue to work.
Summary: Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations with 1 in 5 agriculture producers being affected by a disability. Transportation incidents, which include tractor overturns and roadway crashes, were the leading cause of death for farmers and farm workers and caused injuries from minor to debilitating. How can we prevent fatalities and injuries? The role of AgrAbility with helping farmers/ranchers to continue to work.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Recognize AgrAbility, their resources, and the people they serve
- Identify strategies for how to prevent traffic injuries
- List risk factors related to aging
Intended audience: Farmers/ranchers and those that support them, and anyone who drives
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals.
Cindy Kovar, BS, CPST, CarFit Technician & Coordinator, AARP Certified Instructor
Program Manager
Texas AgrAbility
Cindy Kovar completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Texas A&M University in 1997. She is also a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, CarFit Coordinator and AARP Educator. Cindy grew up on a small farm & ranch in Milam County raising cattle, pigs, chickens, rabbits, bees & catfish, as well as vegetables, fruits, berries, and pecans. Cindy has been in the field of community health for 25 plus years and has served roles for Texas AgriLife Extension with Silver Drivers Safe Texans, the Brazos Valley Injury Prevention Coalition (BVIPC) Reality Education for Drivers (RED). She also worked for the Brazos Valley Women, Infant & Children of Texas (WIC), as well as teaching at CHI St. Joseph Hospital for 25 years. Cindy loves preparing healthy dishes, especially spicy ones. She is an avid arts and craftswoman making jewelry out of pottery, resin, paintings, and leather. She likes recycling/upcycling and doing DIY projects in her spare time. She enjoys traveling, 42 dominos and spending time with her family and friends. In her role with the Texas AgrAbility Project, she contributes her expertise by facilitating client and partner relationships, developing educational programs, conducting farm and ranch assessments, and providing assistive technology recommendations. Her greatest career accomplishments are making a positive impact on Texan’s lives.
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