Federal Grant will Help with West Virginia Farm Safety Initiative

Reducing farm accidents, specifically those involving young people, is the goal of a two-year federal grant awarded to the West Virginia University Extension Service.

The $221,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is for the Youth Safe Farm program. The project is an attempt to help up to 50 families in Braxton, Clay, Mercer, Mineral and Wirt counties identify danger zones on their farms.

Extension agents will host community meetings to address safety issues specific to these counties. Issues include older machinery used by many West Virginia farmers and hilly terrain, which increases the risk of falls and equipment rollovers. All-terrain vehicle safety will also likely be discussed.

Agents will begin contacting families next month.