Farm Safety – Survey Link

Farm Safety – Survey Link for New and Beginning Farmers

(Forwarded from Linda Moist at PA-Women’s Agricultural Network, on behalf of Dennis Murphy, Principal Investigator and Extension Safety Specialist at Penn State Cooperative Extension.)

Farming is one of the most hazardous occupations.  A serious injury can result in total loss of a farm business. New and beginning farmers, defined by USDA as those who have farmed for 10 years or less either as a sole operator or with others who have operated a farm for 10 years or less, face many challenges for which there are educational resources. Missing from those educational resources, however, is information on safety hazards and health issues associated with working on a farm.  We have developed a survey as the first step in addressing those safety hazards and health issues.

Results from the survey will be used to develop safety and health resource materials and hands-on workshops for new and beginning farmers this summer.  By understanding what your needs and interests are, we can do a better job developing useful materials and workshops.

You have been selected to participate in this survey because you are a member of an organization closely connected to sustainable farming, which often has new and beginning farmers, or a participant in a project closely connected to new and beginning farmers. You may ask questions about the survey or the safety materials and workshops by contacting Dennis Murphy at djm13@psu.edu or 814-865-7157.

Your answers will be kept completely confidential and will be released only as summaries in which no individual’s answers can be identified. The survey should only take 10-12 minutes to complete.  You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to answer and you may end your participation at any time by exiting the survey.  By voluntarily completing and submitting the survey, you are acknowledging that you are at least 18 years of age and consent to participate. There are no known risks to participating.

If you fit the definition of a New and Beginning Farmer as defined in the first paragraph, please access the survey by clicking on this link. Upon successful completion of the survey, you will receive a coupon for a $5 discount toward one Farm Safety for New and Beginning Farmers workshop, which will be offered in regions across the state starting this fall.

We realize your time is valuable. Thank you very much for helping us to help you and other farmers like yourself.