Each year, I-CASH releases a calendar that features beautiful photos of rural Iowa. Each month also highlights an important safety and health topic. Check out the safety topics and resources from the 2025 Calendar below!
What are your resolutions to strengthen and improve your mental and physical health in 2025?
Many aspects of farming can be isolating and stressful, so it’s important to build in something to look forward to each day. Stay connected with your family and community during the long winter months, and find ways to relax, maintain healthy habits, stay active, and pursue hobbies you enjoy.
How organized are your work areas as you prepare for planting season?
Slips, trips, and falls are the most common cause of farm injury. Before you head into the busy spring planting season, now is a good time to organize your shops and workspaces. Store tools and materials appropriately, maintain clear walking areas, and secure cables and electric cords.
How do you maintain grain condition to minimize the need for grain bin entry?
Keeping grain in good condition can help prevent grain entrapment and engulfment incidents. Aerate bins as often as needed to keep grain cool, and monitor grain for signs spoilage, such as crusting, damp/warm spots, odors, or rising CO2 levels. Seal fans when not in use and ventilate the headspace between the roof and the grain to minimize grain surface warming. If you must enter a bin, remember to follow proper “lockout, tagout” procedures.
Do you know and follow safe livestock handling practices?
Animals are unpredictable, so plan ahead and identify exit routes in handling facilities and pastures. Well-designed livestock facilities and equipment can prevent many animal-related injuries. Ensure that floors are constructed to reduce slips; chutes, fencing, and gates are strong enough to withstand your livestock; and lighting is even to help calm animals. A good headgate is one of the most important parts of a handling system for your safety and the welfare of your animals.
Do you know the risks of whole body vibration from farm equipment?
Spending long hours on vibrating farm equipment can cause muscle fatigue, low back pain, speech interference, disruption of balance, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Make sure to routinely maintain your vehicles and seat suspensions, adjust seat suspension system for your body weight, reduce vehicle speed over rough terrain, and take breaks from continuous operation.
What safety considerations are you taking into account before using your ATV to spray pesticides?
Safe use of an ATV while spraying pesticides includes awareness of how to properly operate the ATV, as well as how to handle and apply pesticides. Special attention must be paid to stability, due to the additional weight of the fluids and the pesticide tank, and when ATVs and sprayers traverse uneven or sloping ground. Always wear a helmet, use the personal protective equipment (PPE) specified on the product label, and follow all other product directions and precautions.
How accessible are your supplies to protect against zoonotic diseases?
Zoonotic diseases can be spread through handling animals on your farm, or at fairs and festivals. To reduce the risk of illness, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling animals or touching surfaces that come into contact with animals. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is a portable option if soap and water are not available.
What strategies do you have to safely maintain ditches?
Mowing roadway ditches puts you at risk for a rollover. Use a tractor or mower that has a wide wheelbase, a rollover protective structure (ROPS), and seatbelt. Remove front end attachments or keep them in the lowered position. Do not mow on slopes steeper than what the mower or tractor is designed for, and never carry extra riders. Consider alternatives to mowing such as planting lower maintenance native grasses and groundcovers.
When was the last time you replaced your Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblems and checked your lighting and marking?
Farm vehicles and equipment are more visible to other traffic when equipped with Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblems, reflective tape, and adequate lighting. Periodically clean and inspect SMV emblems and tape, and make sure they are securely mounted on the vehicle or implement. Replace-worn, damaged, and faded emblems.
How are you fueling your body and preparing your mind for a busy harvest season?
Harvest season is a busy time on the farm and producers often work long hours. Make sure to get enough rest, take frequent breaks, eat healthy meals and drink plenty of water for long days in the field. Always inform family members and coworkers where you’ll be working, when you expect to be home, and check in with them regularly.
What are you thankful for today?
Adopting a positive mindset with a focus on gratitude can help farmers better handle stressors. Research shows that approaching each day with gratitude can have positive effects on your mental and physical health. Being grateful means having an appreciation for things in your life related to something in the past, the present, or the future. Take a moment at the end of each day to think about one thing you’re grateful for, even during difficult situations.
Are you prepared for an emergency?
Be prepared for unexpected emergencies and disasters by developing an emergency management plan for your farm. Include necessary emergency numbers, GPS coordinates, field and driveway locations, and procedures for chemical spills and biosecurity. Everyone on your farm should be involved in the process, and the plans should be easily accessible. Use the back page of this calendar to list emergency contact numbers and post in a prominent location, also consider storing this information in your phone.