09/21/2025
National Farm Safety & Health Week
by Justine Hemmestad
As harvest kicks into high gear, rural Central Iowa joins the rest of the country in observing National Farm Safety & Health Week, taking place this year from September 21 to 27, 2025. Under the theme “Safety First, Avoid the Worst,” the week serves as a nationwide call to protect the health and well-being of those who power America’s agricultural engine.
This annual observance, held during the third week of September, goes back to 1944, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt first proclaimed the week in response to the growing need to safeguard lives on the farm. Ever since, each sitting U.S. president has continued the tradition, with the National Safety Council and its agricultural partner, the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), leading the charge. The message has remained consistent: the safety and health of farm families and workers must be a priority.
Each day of the week focuses on a different aspect of farm safety:
Monday, September 22, 2025 – Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 – Health and Wellness
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 – Generations of Farming
Thursday, September 25, 2025 – Confined Spaces
Friday, September 26, 2025 – ATV/UTV Safety
At Iowa State University Extension hubs, both in Ames and across local counties, experts will be leading workshops and webinars covering topics like tractor lighting regulations, ATV handling, and mental health support for farm families. These events aim to not only reduce injuries and fatalities but also promote a culture of wellness that lasts beyond the harvest season.
Across the board, farming remains one of the most dangerous professions in the U.S., with 417 work-related deaths reported in the agricultural sector in 2022 alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That reality is never far from the minds of those working Iowa’s fields.
To raise awareness, organizations like AgriSafe and partners such as L&I are providing training through platforms like agrisafe.org/nfshw
, offering everything from e-learning modules to live safety sessions for rural communities.
For local farm families and ag workers, the goal is simple: to ensure that every person—whether operating a combine, managing livestock, or overseeing grain bins—returns home safely at the end of each day.
“Safety isn’t seasonal,” said one extension educator. “It’s a year-round responsibility—and right now, during harvest, that message matters more than ever.”
https://www.necasag.org/nationalfarmsafetyandhealthweek/
