Govs Get It Done: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz Announces Enhanced Farm Safety Measures

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz yesterday announced a commonsense proposal to prevent farming accidents. The $250,000 fund would reimburse farmers who invest in safety equipment, create an awareness campaign highlighting the importance of agriculture safety, and promote the availability of the funding to farmers.
Gov. Walz grew up on a farm, so he has firsthand experience of the dangers faced by agriculture workers. Hundreds die in farming accidents every year in the United States, and thousands more are injured. While the agriculture industry only makes up 2% of the Minnesota workforce, it accounted for more than 30% of workplace fatalities in 2014.
Tractors are the most common cause of death on farms nationally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends installing a rollover protective structure and a seat belt to prevent tractor overturn deaths. Gov. Walz’s plan includes funds for farmers to install these rollover protective structures on their tractors.
Read more about Minnesota’s new farm safety fund below:
Associated Press: ‘Momma on a mission’ backs Walz’s call for farm safety money
Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday proposed reimbursing farmers who retrofit their tractors with rollover protection or install safety equipment in their grain bins in an effort to reduce farm accidents.
The governor was joined at a news conference by Michele Gran, whose 18-year-old son, Landon, was killed in a grain bin accident on their farm near St. Peter last August. She has since channeled her grief into a campaign for farm safety, including a pair of bills dubbed Landon’s Law that are making their way through the Legislature.
“I’m a momma on a mission,” Gran told reporters as she fought back tears. “I don’t want to stop here in Minnesota. I want Minnesota to be the leader.”
Valley News Live: Gov. Walz proposes $250,000 in state funding for farm safety measures
Governor Tim Walz is proposing state funding that would provide money to farmers who wish to enhance safety equipment. Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the state funding proposal of $250,000 to increase farm safety measures across the state.
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The proposal includes three complementary approaches to address farm safety.
The Governor’s office says the funds will:
1) Relaunch the Tractor Rollover Protection Grant Program, originally created by Minnesota Statute 17.119. Once reinstated, the program reimburses farmers who retrofit eligible tractors with rollover protective structures.
2) Create a cost-share or reimbursement program for farmers who wish to invest in grain bin safety equipment.
3) Conduct a farm safety outreach campaign highlighting tractor safety and grain bin safety and promoting the availability of this funding.
KSTP 5 Eyewitness News: Walz, Flanagan propose funding to help prevent farming accidents
Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on Tuesday announced a funding proposal of $250,000 to help enhance farm safety measures across the state.
The proposal suggests using the money to reimburse farmers who retrofit eligible tractors with rollover protective structures, to create a cost-share or reimbursement program for farmers wanting to invest in grain bin safety equipment and to create a campaign highlighting tractor and grain bin safety to promote the availability of the funding to farmers.
“Too many Minnesota families have lost loved ones to preventable farming accidents,” Walz said.