Advancements only make farm safety more tough
A report from the U.S. Census Bureau tells us that in 1900, there were nearly 6 million farms across the nation, feeding a U.S. population of 76.3 million, give or take a little import and export of crops.
Today, a global marketplace is more reliant on crops from all around the world. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are now 1.9 million farms in the U.S. It’s hard to put perspective on the shift, but for the sake of statistics, the population of the U.S. has exploded to 345,426,571, give or take.
The USDA’s Census of Agriculture is performed every 5 years, most recently in 2022. It states there were 1.9 million farms and ranches (down 7% from 2017) with an average size of 463 acres (up 5%) on 880 million acres of farmland (down 2%). That is 39% of all U.S. land.
Family-owned and operated farms accounted for 95% of all U.S. farms and operated 84% of land in farms.
This is all to say that while the human population is increasing, the number of farmers is decreasing, making for more and more work for fewer and fewer farmers.
While increased mechanization of farming has made aspects of agriculture easier, the necessary volume makes up for it. Farming has always been stressful: Will the weather cooperate? Will wildlife decimate the crop? Is the farmer healthy enough to get out to the field every day? Are the livestock healthy and/or producing?
And some of that agriculture-easing mechanization can be dangerous.
That’s just to name a few stressors. And a Penn State University study tells us there were 33 farm-related deaths in the state in 2023.
Which is why we are acknowledging National Farm Safety and Health Week, on through Friday. Information can be found at https://www.necasag.org/nationalfarmsafetyandhealthweek/
It’s difficult to imagine how hard it is for a farm to keep up with demands in a safe way.
To our farmers, thank you for all you do. Stay safe out in the fields.
— RJ
