Eliminate Fire Hazards Now, NDSU Safety Expert Recommends

About 12,000 people die every year as a result of residential fires according to the National Fire Protection Association.  Thousands more suffer injuries.  "Those tragedies don't have to happen, they are preventable," emphasizes George Maher, a safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service. "Careless habits with easily ignited materials are the cause of most of these fires," he says.  "One of the most common causes is children playing with matches or cigarette lighters.  Youngsters are attracted to those items.  Extra care must be taken to keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children."About 70% of residential fires start in the living room, kitchen or basement.  As many fires start in the daytime hours as during the night, except in multiple dwelling buildings where three fourths of the fatal fires occur during the night.  "Most victims are usually not aware of the fire until it is too late and some are never aware at all," Maher says.To prevent fires, keep a constant watch for new hazards and eliminate them as soon as they are spotted, he recommends.  All residents should be on the alert to spot and control fire hazards.  "Most fire hazards develop gradually, so people tend to become accustomed to them and often don't see them as a threat," Maher notes.Combustibles are frequently stored in the worst areas.  "Accumulations of newspaper and other combustible materials always start out as a small stack or just one or two papers, but soon it adds up to several weeks of newspapers," he says.  "Utility rooms and locations next to the furnace are common and dangerous locations for that material to accumulate.  A much safer choice would be an unheated area to eliminate the source of ignition.  The best choice is not to store them at all, but the dispose of the materials right after using them."Another area of concern is the management of a wood-burning stove or heater.  Many fires start when the residents are away from home or have gone to sleep for the night, Maher notes.  "Before going to bed or leaving the house, the air intake vents for these units should be adjusted to slow down the rate of burning so the fire will not burn so hot and will last longer.  Wood-burning heaters should never be left alone unless you know how to prepare the heater for this unsupervised time."

A wood-burning heater and its stove pipe connections need to be monitored for buildup of soot and creosote throughout the season, he says.  Slow-burning fires can lead to buildups of soot and creosote deposits.  Commercially available products, when used as recommended, can reduce these deposits in the stove pipes and chimney.  Occasionally the heater may need to be shut down for a thorough cleaning session.  This is a good time to inspect the unit for any other dangerous conditions that may be developing.

Sensor Can Provide Accuracy and  Portability to Sugarbeet Producers

Sugar content in sugarbeets can now be determined in seconds and in the field, according to a NDSU Extension agricultural engineer. NDSU agricultural engineers Vern Hofman and Suranjan Panigrahi have developed a tool for sugarbeet producers that will be able to quickly analyze sugar content with great reliability. The machine combines near-infrared technology (NIR) and statistical software to provide a faster,
portable method of sugar content analysis that should be of great help to sugarbeet producers and processing plants. "Ideally, what we foresee is a tool portable enough and reliable enough to allow producers to determine the pounds of sugar from a particular section of their field," says Hofman. "With the use of a yield map and instant sugar-content analysis, producers will be able to address issues in particular areas of their fields such as fertility and soil sampling." Reliability of the sugar content readings is important. The sensor uses a fiber optic spectral meter and a halogen light for sensing. Unlike processing plant procedures which can take an hour and involve processing a sugarbeet into a pulp and then getting a sugar content from analyzing the whole beet, the sensor uses a thin cross-section of the beet taken from the top of the beet. "The results we are getting are averaging 95.4 percent accuracy when compared to samples taken at the plant," says Hofman. "The differences are accounted for primarily by the way the readings are taken. Our readings are from a small, localized part of the beet as opposed to the whole beet, but we can account for the differences with statistical models. These are incorporated into the software." The sugar-content sensor is ready for some applications, but in need of modifications for others. "In a processing plant, the sensor could be hooded or otherwise isolated from ambient light so that the spectral meter can take a good reading," says Hofman. "The unit needs some adaptations to become the portable unit that could be taken out to the field. We don’t have the funding to do that yet, but we hope the potential of the sensor will inspire someone to help out in that area."

"We see tremendous potential for this sensor as a complement to precision farming," says Hofman. "With GPS and yield maps, the sensor could tell a producer exactly what is going on in his fields, and allow him to address whatever issues are lowering yields in a more organized, cost-effective way."

Information on Manure Management Is Now  Available

Information on science-based manure management practices are available to help producers evaluate their farming or ranching operation and implement practices that are most beneficial to their operation.  The information is also of interest to industry stakeholders and educators.A national team of more than 30 land-grant universities (including North Dakota State University), USDA-NRCS, and USDA-ARS professionals developed the curriculum materials.  The final product, called the "Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship (LPES)" curriculum, consists of 26 lessons addressing animal dietary strategies, manure storage and treatment, land application and nutrient management and outdoor air quality.   These products are available as a printed set of the lessons and as a CD."Producers will use the curriculum as a tool to review the environmental risks associated with their operation and as a reference to the science behind specific issues, technologies or practices," says Ken Hellevang, NDSU Extension service agriculture engineer.  "Educators will be able to use the PowerPoint presentations for teaching workshops, certification programs, or employee training sessions.  They can use the assessment tools for reviewing an operation's environmental risk and compliance with regulations."  Interactive versions of the assessment tools, which are part of the lessons, are available at the web site www.lpes.org.

Priced at $25, the searchable CD contains the 26 lessons and PowerPoint presentations that supplement the lessons.  The 3-hole punched hardcopy set of the lesson sells for $55.  To order the material, contact Extension Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at (701) 231-7236 or dmcdonou@ndsuext.nodak.edu.

New Publication Provides Guidance on Keeping Your Home Healthy

We breathe about 5,000 gallons of air daily and spend 90% of our time indoors.  That make indoor air quality especially important, according to a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer. "Everyone's health is affected by indoor air quality, but children and the elderly are at higher risk of adverse effects.  Exposure to mold can cause respiratory problems and can trigger asthma attacks," say Ken Hellevang, of the NDSU Extension Service. A new publication from the NDSU Extension Service provides guidance on "How to Keep Your Home Healthy." "Many of our indoor air quality problems are related to home moisture problems which challenge us all year, such as wet basements during the summer and condensation during the winter.  Mold growth depends on moist conditions, so controlling moisture controls mold," Hellevang says. The publication provides guidance for controlling moisture such as keeping indoor humidity at 30-40% during the winter to minimize widow condensation, opening closet doors and keeping items away from exterior walls to limit mold growth, and using a bathroom exhaust fan to exhaust moisture released during a shower.  Enough moisture is introduced into the air during a shower to raise the humidity in a 1,500 sq. ft. living area by about 5 percentage points. "With higher heating costs, people are looking for ways to save money.  One idea is to capture the heat from the clothes dryer by venting the dryer indoors.  This is a bad idea since more than one half gallon of water is released while drying one load of clothes," Hellevang says.  "That much moisture would quickly cause excess moisture in a home."The use of unvented combustion space heaters is discouraged because the combustion by-products include many types of chemicals that are unhealthy, and about one-half gallon of water is released into the home for each gallon of fuel burned.

The publication also includes information on ice dams, drainage around basements, crawl spaces, radon, carbon monoxide, and air filters.  The publication, AE-1204, "Keep Your Home Healthy," is available from NDSU Extension Service county offices and from the NDSU Distribution Center.

Remember Safety When Tractor Shopping This Spring

Each spring, numerous used tractors flood farm equipment auctions, and eager buyers set out to get the best deals. In this situation, it is essential to evaluate the buy with safety in mind, advises George Maher, North Dakota State University Extension Service agriculture safety specialist. The
cheapest horsepower may also be the most dangerous ride. Many safety features that are standard on new tractors can be retrofitted on older tractors, making them safer to use. Old auction tractors don’t have to be dangerous if proper attention is paid to safety equipment. Four categories of safety features to be considered are:

                                          Protection from hazards of operation
                                          Visibility and recognition
                                          Improved stability
                                          Operator comfort

"The most effective protection from hazards of operation is the Roll Over Protective System (ROPS) feature," says Maher. It is included in the cabs of all newer tractors and can be retrofitted on most of the older tractors at a very reasonable dealer price. Most dealers and county extension
agricultural agents have reference ROPC catalogs for such tractors. Maher cautions farmers not to build their own ROPS, as there is no safe way to determine its strength and protective capabilities. In addition to the ROPS feature, all tractors should have bypass starting shields. "Bypass starting is gambling with your life," Maher says. If a tractor does not possess this device, contact a local machinery dealer and have one installed immediately. It could mean the difference between life and
death. "No tractor is safe without a master shield on the PTO stub shaft," Maher says. This safety feature should cover the top and sides of the stub shaft and support the weight of a 265 lb. person without bending. It is relatively easy to retrofit improved lighting systems on older tractors. Turn signals, hazard flashers, reflectors and taillights can be installed to improve roadway safety. Better field lights can also reduce operator stress and accidents.

Old, faded Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) signs should be replaced with new, more reflective signs that are several times more visible to approaching drivers. "Few tractor operators survive rear collisions without injury," Maher notes. "A good SMV sign, properly placed, can prevent the collision from happening." Other factors to consider when buying used tractors are the weight distribution and ballasting. Will you have to add ballasting to get the most use from it? Will the wheel configuration work with your field equipment? These are questions that must be answered prior to purchase. Believe it or not, operator comfort is also an important safety feature. A comfortable tractor seat can prevent back injuries and keep the farmer farming! New seats can be retrofitted to older tractors and seatbelts should also be added. "Safety equipment that comes with a tractor will be less costly than adding the same equipment to a tractor without it," says Maher. "Pay close attention to existing safety equipment when shopping for a used tractor."

Some features can be economically added to older tractors, but there is always a chance that it won’t get done. Be sure to take care of these safety issues as soon as possible. Preventing accidents and fatalities is well worth the investment!

Fire Extinguishers Are A Necessity In The  Home

Little is more devastating than a fire in your home or your place of business, say a North Dakota State University safety specialist.  That is why a working fire extinguisher is so important. According to George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service, "Fuel, oxygen, and heat need to be present for a fire to exist.  If any one of these is removed with a fire extinguisher there will not be a fire."Maher says there are four classes of fire.  They are classified by type because of the difference in what can be safely used to fight the fire and put it out with.Class A Fires
Involve dry, solid combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth, etc.  Most house fires are Class A.  A Class A fire extinguisher should be used to cool the burning materials lower than the temperature of ignition.Class B Fires
When a fire is fueled by petroleum or oil-based products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, oil, cooking oil, or grease, it is a Class B fire.  These fires are difficult to extinguish with water - a Class B fire extinguisher will smother the fire and suffocate it by shutting of the oxygen needed for combustion, Maher says.Class C Fires
A Class C fire is electrical.  This kind of fire involves an electrical motor, electric switches, controllers, lights, appliances, or even electronic items such as a television set, CD or DVD player, etc.  These fires require a Class C extinguisher which is not water based.  "Electricity and water do not mix, squirting water on a fire in a burning television set or on an electric range can be deadly," Maher says.Class D Fires
Fires involving flammable metals, such as magnesium, sodium, potassium, or titanium must be extinguished with a Class D extinguisher.  According to Maher, these fires are extremely hot.  A pail of dry sand will also extinguish these fires."Fire departments urge homeowners to get out of the house first, then call 911 for help.  You can use a hand-held extinguisher first if you are immediately on the scene when the fire starts," Maher says.According to Maher, most fires that occur in the home or on the farm can be put out with a Class ABC extinguisher, if the fire is caught early and the extinguisher is big enough.  Extinguishers are sized by the weight in pounds.  A two and a half pound ABC fire extinguisher will provide about 15-20 seconds of fire fighting ability.  About 30-45 seconds for a five pound extinguisher.  "These times are not very long, so it pays to have a large enough extinguisher and the knowledge of how to use it," Maher says.According to Maher, a two and one half pound extinguisher can be adequate for a specific home area such as the kitchen.  A five pound extinguisher is recommended for general home use.  Tractors and combines should be quipped with the ten pound extinguisher as a minimum, and farm buildings a 20 or 25 pound extinguisher.PASS is the acronym for how to use a fire extinguisher; Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep.Pull the locking pin that keeps the handle valve in the 'safe' position.
Aim the nozzle of the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the valve handle against the handle of the extinguisher.
Sweep the extinguisher back and forth, start at the base of the fire, and advance only as the fire is being extinguished.According to Maher, never walk on material that was burning, it could possible re-ignite, surround you and trap you in the fire.  "Do not expect the extinguisher to last a long time, while expelling its contents at the fire.  Be prepared to back out of the situation if it gets out of hand; always have an escape route in mind and constantly re-evaluate it as you fight the fire," Maher says.Stop, Drop, and Roll is the procedure if your clothing should catch fire.  This is extremely difficult to do since the natural, human thing to do is to run from the fire.Stop any running movement.
Drop to the ground.
Roll over to smother and extinguish the flames."Some synthetic fabrics will be more difficult to stop from burning, but Stop, Drop, and Roll is still the most effective way to put out the fire," Maher says.

According to Maher, fire extinguishers need periodic attention to keep them functional.  Dry chemical extinguishers are filled with a powder that will 'set up' with time, only to be completely ineffective when needed.  "These extinguishers should be checked every month and tipped and rocked back and forth to keep the powder loose and flowable.  All fire extinguishers require checking for being fire-ready at least once every year," Maher says.

Tips To Prevent Anhydrous Ammonia Theft

In recent years, North Dakota has experienced an incredible increase in importation, distribution and illicit manufacturing of methamphetamine.  Anhydrous ammonia, a common and widely used fertilizer, is used in the production of this illegal and very dangerous drug.  Consequently, farm operators must take extra precautions to prevent the theft of anhydrous ammonia, advises George Maher, North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural safety specialist."The process of stealing fertilizer puts the thief at risk of exposure and resulting injury.  Unbelievably, the owner of the anhydrous ammonia can be held responsible to the thief for the injury suffered," say Maher.  To prevent this fate, Maher offers the following tips:1)    Don't hid the nurse tank.  Parking the anhydrous ammonia tank in a remote, hard to see place makes theft easier.  Instead, park the tank in a wide-open area, such as the middle of a large field.
2)    Bleed the pressure from the nurse tank hose at the end of every day.  Do so by closing the nurse tank hose valve and using the bleeder valve.  Don't forget to wear protective equipment!  Use a sturdy aircraft cable with loops at each end and lock the nurse tank hose valve.  If the thief has tools capable of cutting aircraft cable, he or she can most likely cut any other lock you might use.
3)    Do not leave a full or partially full nurse tank in a field close to any road overnight or for an extended period of time, if possible.  Even a tank presumed to be empty may actually meet the thief's needs.
4)    Empty nurse tanks should be returned to the dealer facility as soon as possible, and partially full tanks quickly used and returned as well.
5)    Do not booby trap the nurse tank.  This simply make you liable to anyone injured while tampering with the equipment.  Workers may also be injured if they are unaware of the traps.
6)    Talk to your local anhydrous ammonia equipment dealer about new nurse tank securing products.

Farm operators play of the most important roles in preventing illicit methamphetamine manufacturing.  Drug makers are inhibited when ammonia is too difficult to steal or unavailable.  Help prevent methamphetamine production and protect your own assets by stopping anhydrous ammonia theft.

Ag Engineer Offers Tips for Grain Storage and Drying During Winter and Spring

High-moisture grain placed into storage this past fall and early winter may need to be dried before temperatures moderate, a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer says.

"Corn at 24 percent moisture content has an allowable storage time of about 130 days at 30 F, but only about 40 days at 40 F, and 15 days at 50 F. Corn at 24 percent moisture content or higher will need to be removed from the bin and dried before the top or sidewalls of the bin are heated by the sun to temperatures that will lead to spoiled grain," says Ken Hellevang of the NDSU Extension Service.

Spring drying of corn using a natural-air or low-temperature system will take about 35 to 40 days using an airflow rate of 1.25 cubic feet per minute per bushel (cfm/bu) starting in early April, when outside air temperatures average about 40 degrees or warmer, Hellevang says. The maximum corn moisture content that should be dried using an airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu is 22 percent. The allowable storage time of 22 percent moisture corn is about 60 days at 40 F and 30 days at 50 F.

Hellevang notes that natural-air and low-temperature drying is not efficient at temperatures below about 40 F because of the small amount of moisture picked up by cold air. "The water-holding capacity of air is related to the air temperature. A 20 degree reduction in temperature cuts the water-holding capacity of the air in half, which doubles the drying time," he explains.

Using the moisture-holding capacity of air at 70 F for comparison, air at 50 F will hold or pick up 48 percent as much moisture as air at 70 F, and at 30 F the air will only pick up about 22 percent as much moisture. The estimated drying time for 21 percent moisture corn using an airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu is 36 days at 47 F and 70 days at 27 F.

"The average relative humidity during November to March is about 75 percent, so corn will only dry to about 19 percent using a natural-air system," Hellevang says. "Adding heat to the system will reduce the relative humidity, which reduces the final grain moisture content, and reduces the drying time some.

"The average March temperature is 24 F. Warming air by 5 degrees with an airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu will reduce the final corn moisture content to about 14.5 percent and reduce the drying time from about 70 days to about 50 days. The drying time will be almost two months in length.

Heating the air by 10 degrees will reduce the final corn moisture content to about 12.5 percent, and reduce the drying time to about 41 days. "Because corn is usually marketed at 15.5 percent moisture, the corn is over-dried just by warming the air 10 degrees. The drying time is only reduced from 50 to 41 days," Hellevang says.

"It is best for the grain to be at room temperature to accurately measure grain moisture content. Electronic meters are affected by grain temperature, so a temperature adjustment must be added to the moisture reading to get an accurate measurement," he says. The adjustment must be done manually, unless the meter automatically measures the temperature and makes the adjustment.

At a grain temperature of 40 F, the temperature correction may be about 2.5 percent. If the meter reading indicates a moisture content of 20 percent, the adjusted moisture content is 22.5 percent. Meters will not be accurate with grain temperatures near or below freezing. "Warm the sample to room temperature in a sealed container to obtain the most accurate value," Hellevang says.

"Grain coming from a high-temperature dryer will be drier on the exterior of the kernel than on the interior. Since many moisture meters will be affected by the exterior moisture content of the kernel more than the entire kernel, the sample should be allowed to equilibrate in a sealed container for at least 12 hours before the moisture content is taken," he says. "The difference between this reading and that coming directly from the drier can be used to estimate the amount that the meter is being fooled. Also, remember to apply the temperature adjustment if the grain sample is warmer than the meter standard. A reduction in moisture content of more than 1.5 percent may be needed if the grain temperature is near 100 F."

Roaring Tractors Will Damage Your Hearing!

A familiar sound has returned to the prairies this spring, farm tractors and other machinery are roaring to life as field work resumes. According to a North Dakota State University agricultural safety specialist, that roaring poses a serious threat to farm workers' hearing. "Safety and health researchers have thoroughly studied the effects of noise on hearing loss, so the safe limits for exposure to levels of noise are well known. Ninety decibels is the loudest sound that workers should be exposed to for eight hours or more," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. Because most farmers work much more than eight hours a day during the crop production season, their exposure to noise levels should be less than 90 decibels at any given time. According to Maher, exposure to excess noise levels can have health impacts beyond hearing loss. High noise levels aggravate fatigue and stress, two key factors that can cause accidents. Increased fatigue slows reactions to sudden hazards and changes in the immediate work environment. Workers exposed to excessive noise levels will be more fatigues than those whose hearing is protected. "Too much exposure to loud noise results in increased levels of stress. Agriculture has enough stress associated with it, anything contributing to the stress should be controlled. Tests have shown that hearing protection does reduce worker stress," Maher says. "Whenever the noise level gets close to the maximum permissible levels, hearing protection should be worn," Maher says. Meausring noise levels is not an easy task, it requires the careful use of precision equipment, so a worker's first sensing of loud noise levels is an acceptable indication that hearing protection should be worn. Hearing loss is less obvious than a loss of other senses, making it harder to detect. A "ringing" noise or somewhat muffled sense of hearing is one sign. Loss of the ability to hear some sounds, especially the higher pitched frequencies is another sign. Initial hearing loss from temporary excessive noise levels may return overnight, but continued exposure to these levels will cause hearing loss to become permanent.Operating a newer tractor with a "sound-engineered" cab can result in less exposure to harmful noise levels. Wearing ear muffs or ear plugs is another way. According to Maher, stuffing wads of cotton in the ears is not safe hearing protection, the noise may be muffled but it is still getting through, and will damage your hearing. The design and manufacture of safe, effective hearting protective equipment is a precision process.Many brands, styles, and models of plugs and muffs are available, so selecting protective equipment for your hearing protection can be confusing. Do not depend on price alone. Price is usually a good indicator of quality, but not always, Maher says.The noise reduction rating (NRR) should help you in making a decision. A higher NRR value indicates more protection, at a noise level of 100 decibels your hearing protection with a NRR of 25 will reduce your exposure to 75 decibels.Protective equipment must be test fitted to the individual. Ear muffs can usually be tried on an check for comfort and effectiveness. "They must fit properly if they are to do the job," Maher says.You should also test the equipment with a loud noise present. "Testing them in a silent room tells you nothing," Maher says. "There must be some noise present. If there is a significant reduction in the noise volume and perhaps elimination of some frequencies, then they offer some protection."Ear muffs should be snug enough that they do not slip from position, but not so snug that the cause discomfort. The muff should have direct contact around the ears, and they may not seal properly against your head if you wear your hair long and over the ears. Some ear muffs are more effective in certain positions, the way you wear them will affect how well they work. Those that are affected by position offer the most protection when the strap is over the top of your head. The NRR rating may be lower when the strap is worn around the back of the head or under the chin.Ear plugs should fit in the outer ear canal comfortably. They may take some getting used to, but should not be painful. Some kinds of plugs are rolled down to a small diameter, inserted carefully in the outer ear canal, and allowed to expand, filling the outer canal. With other kinds, you simply wiggle them in.

"If you can still hear the tractor, even for just a few hours after work, that is a strong indication of hearing loss," Maher said. "Get your hearing checked soon and learn how bad your loss is, maybe you should be wearing some hearing protection."

Biodiesel Is Becoming A New Source of Energy

Domestically produced and renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils or recycled fuel is making biodiesel a hot commodity among farmers in North Dakota. "Bio-diesel is a vegetable oil that is converted into an ethyl or methyl ester," says Vern Hofman, NDSU Extension Service agriculture & biosystems engineer. It’s a renewable type of fuel that you can make from numerous types of vegetable oils that are currently grown in North Dakota and all
parts of the world," Just like petroleum diesel, biodiesel operates in combustion-ignition engines. It’s blend a of petroleum diesel mixed with up to 20 percent biodiesel. Using biodiesel does not require engine modifications and can provide the same payload capacity and range as petroleum diesel. Using biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine substantially reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and particulate matter. These reductions  increase as the amount of biodiesel blended into diesel fuel increases. "The biggest problem with using a raw vegetable oil is the viscosity of the fuel. What we are trying to do is convert it into an ester which breaks down the vegetable oil molecule in size, making it more similar to diesel," Hofman says. "There have been studies that have shown biodiesel will lubricate just as well, if not better than regular diesel, which is good for the injector pump," Hofman says. "There is another disadvantage in that it does tend to gel at warmer temperatures compared to regular diesel. It gels at approximately
30 degrees, but if we dilute it with diesel fuel or use some additives or engine heaters, I think we can work around the problem. But we’re more than likely going to go with lower rate of biodiesel rather than using it at 100 percent. Its mainly a matter of people getting used to biodiesel because it
is a little different." In North Dakota, farmers are showing interest in biodiesel, but are hesitant to buy it because of the high cost. "Diesel fuel is probably going to cost about $1 a gallon and biodiesel is about $1.50 per gallon. That is about an extra 50 cents per gallon or so on top of the regular cost," Hofman says.

"Looking at it from a farmer’s point of view, it is going to produce an excellent new market for their crops. They grow enough soybeans here to replace all of the unfarmed fuel needs in the state. That does not include personal transportation, so we are just talking about farm machine use. Soybeans was a minor crop until a few years ago. If we took the oil from soybeans, we could replace all of the diesel fuel on North Dakota farms using soybean oil.

Farm Machinery Is No Place to Play, Farm Specialist Says

With schools closing for the summer, children will soon be home for nearly three months. Many rural children will be exposed to countless risks and hazards as they roam the farm as if it were their backyard. "Farm machinery and buildings are hazardous areas and are not safe for children," says George Maher, a safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.  "Allowing children to play on and around farm machinery exposes them to opportunities for serious injury.  Farm machinery has many sharp edges and places that are not safe to climb on.  It is not acceptable for children to use the machinery as a jungle gym or play toy." Visiting children, as well as children who live on the farm, are subject to injury from livestock, especially from large-animal livestock.  Livestock production areas present a considerable danger for children.  "Children are simply not aware of the dangers that lurk there," Maher explains.Children are inquisitive and believe they are invincible.  Maher admits that it's not easy to keep them safe and out of danger.  "But it  is a very necessary task," he says.  Between 1991 and 1996, 320 North Dakota children were injured because of animals and farm machinery.  Of those injuries, 252 happened to children 10 years old and younger. "Farming is the only industry where children under 16 years of age are fatally injured in occupational accidents - don't let or expect your child to do the work of an adult." states Jack Burke of the National Safety Council. Unnecessary risk can be reduced or even eliminated by managing the farmstead for safety.  Some of these ideas may work for you:

1)    Give children a safety tour of the farm.  Show them where they are not allowed to play, and reasons why they are not allowed to play there.
2)    Point out the dangers.
3)    Confine youngsters to a fenced safe play area that is connected to the house.
4)    When adults can't be around, place a responsible older child in charge of the youngsters.  Before taking this course of action, be sure the child in charge is mature enough for the task.
5)    Neighboring farm families can sometimes share child care and supervision responsibilities.
6)    Establish a cooperative rural child care program.
7)    Request the help of grandparents or in-laws who would be willing to supervise the youngsters.

"Farm machinery has one seat, and it is for the driver only," Maher says.  "Children should not be allowed to ride along on farm machinery.  No one, especially children, should have to hang on for dear life through a morning or afternoon in the fields.  If the child should fall from the tractor it is not likely that the machinery could be stopped in time to prevent disaster.  The tractor or combine is no place to baby-sit."