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Tractor rollovers focus of Farm Safety Week in Minnesota

Tractor rollover awareness is at the forefront as Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith declares this week Farm Safety and Health Week in Minnesota.

Between 2003 and 2013, workplace fatalities in the agricultural industry rose 30 percent, with rollovers cited as the leading cause of injury and death.

These types of accidents have been a focus of the Governor’s administration and legislature, with passage of the Rollover Protective Structures Rebate Program during the 2016 Session.

The program reimburses farmers and schools at least 70 percent of total costs associated to installing a rollover protection kit.

Smith says roll bars and seat belts are 99 percent effective in preventing death and serious injury in the event of a rollover.

In addition to financial support from the state, the program also received support from CHS, Land O’Lakes, Cargill, ADM, Ag Country, United FCS, AgStar and AgriBank.