Farm Safety Week: Guarding Against Grain Entrapment

National Education Center for Ag Safety Director Dan Neenan joins us to discuss grain bin safety and the steps producers can take to prevent tragedies.

PEOSTA, Iowa (RFD-TV)Grain entrapment remains the leading cause of confined space fatalities in agriculture. As National Farm Safety and Health Week continues, safety experts are emphasizing both the risks and the best practices that farmers need to keep in mind.

Dan Neenan, Director of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to discuss confined space safety and the steps producers can take to prevent tragedies.

In an interview with RFD-TV News, Neenan outlined the best practices for entering confined spaces and explained how hurried decisions during busy times, such as harvest, can increase the risk of accidents. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that local fire departments have the necessary training and equipment to respond to agricultural emergencies.

Neenan closed by reminding producers that while confined spaces are part of everyday farm life, safety protocols and preparation are critical to protecting lives.

Related Stories
Colin Reilly with Connected Nation joined RFD-TV News to explain how the tool works and why it’s an important step in bridging the digital divide.
USDA’s report shows wheat strength overall, with winter wheat yields setting records, while spring wheat and rye saw declines. Oats and barley remain constrained by record-low acreage despite stable or rising yields.
Bigger-than-expected corn and wheat stocks are bearish for prices, while soybean figures were neutral. Farmers may face additional price pressure as harvest accelerates.
As flu season closes in, Dr. Gold outlines the steps to take when you get sick — including resting, staying hydrated, and knowing when to seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.
Jeramy Stephens, with National Land Realty, says that despite today’s economic headwinds, farmland remains a resilient asset — and understanding local conditions is key to making sound decisions.
Higher domestic rail tariffs and mixed capacity shifts will influence grain movement this harvest. Strong corn exports provide momentum, but logistics costs remain a critical factor.
Despite global improvement, food insecurity remains deeply concentrated in vulnerable regions.
Chris McGovern from Connected Nation joined us Tuesday to break down the findings and discuss their implications for rural America.
The Final Grain Stocks Report may be the last key figures we see if a government shutdown halts future updates.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Reed Marcum started hosting a toy drive in 2015. Since then, he has distributed thousands of toys across his home state of Oklahoma and in Texas and Arkansas. Now serving in the Army, Reed’s family and local 4-H chapter are running the event.
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Tax Expert Roger McEowen explains the basics of Low-Risk Credit in Farming, and how an understanding of the farm credit landscape lets producers tactfully approach debt.
Mike Steenhoek, with the Soy Transportation Commission, shares his outlook on current grain stocks and transportation lines amid bumper crops filling bins across the United States.
Renewable Fuels Association President & CEO Geoff Cooper explains their call for reciprocal duties on Chinese ag imports after China failed to meet past promises on ethanol production.
American soybean and corn leaders, along with Canada’s AgriFood sector, testified before the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office in support of the trade pact between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The FAO Food Price Index for November fell by more than 1 percent in November, marking the third straight month of declines.