A&T Presents Farm Safety Demos

September 9, 1996

Greensboro, NC: Faculty members from the North Carolina A&T State University School of Agriculture will coordinate a farm safety demonstration, September 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. The event is scheduled in conjunction with Farm Safety Week, which runs from September 15 to 21.

"Farm Safety Week calls attention to the great number of accidents which occur annually on farms across the United States," said John Paul Owens, an instructor with the NC A&T School of Agriculture and a survey coordinator for A&T's Farm Safety Project. "This event is especially important going into the very dangerous harvest season."

Agriculture is one of the most accident-prone industries in the United States. Tractor accidents, pesticide poisoning, misuse of harvesting equipment and other errors have taken their toll on the lives, limbs and livelihoods of hundreds of North Carolina farmers in the past several years.

Featured during the day are demonstrations on tractor and machinery safety, chainsaw safety, and pesticide handling and the importance of protective clothing. A number of exhibitors from state and local agencies will also be on hand.

A meal, compliments of A&T's Farm Safety Project, will be served, free of charge, to the first 100 registered farmers. Farmers in Guilford County may pre- register by calling Mr. John Paul Owens at (336) 334-7901. Farmers in Forsyth County may pre-register by calling Ms. Maurene Rickards at the Forsyth Cooperative Extension Office, (336) 767-8213. On-site registration will also be conducted the morning of the demonstration.