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Tractor safety course, canola school setBy Richard C. Snell Barton County Extension Agent, agriculture Kansas Not a day goes by that we don't hear of someone being injured or dying because of an accident. How about if we try to prevent some of those, especially the ones relating to farming? Starting later this month, we will be offering our annual Hazardous Occupations Training (Tractor Safety) course for young people. This is the one time per year we teach the class in Barton County. Many counties only offer this every other year. By law, only 14 and 15 year old youth who have taken the course and have a certificate may work on a farm for anyone except a parent. Employers who violate this law are subject to a $10,000 fine. We do encourage even those youth working on their parent's farm to take the class. The class will meet March 24 and 27, then again on April 3, 14 and 15. We will meet from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., on those dates. All sessions will be in Great Bend. The cost will be $15, which pays for the book, snacks and a pizza party at the end. We need each student's name, social security number, age, date of birth, address, phone number, parent's name and farm employer (if you know who it will be). Please enroll by March 21. When you enroll at the Barton County Extension Office, 1800 12th Street (corner of 12th and Baker) in Great Bend, students will receive their book for the course. Students will need to read the first three chapters and answer the questions at the end of each chapter. A parent or guardian will need to attend at least one of the class sessions. Most of the sessions will be held at the extension office but some will be at implement dealers. For the most part, this will not be a course to teach young people how to drive a tractor. The driving practice and test need to be completed by the employer or parent. We used to do the driving part for all students but time restraints prevent us from doing so except in unusual cases. However, in case you do not have access to a tractor, we do have a plan. On two Saturdays, April 12 and 19, we will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., for those who do not have an employer or relative to oversee the driving test. Most counties do not do the driving part anymore. The actual safety training (Hazardous Occupations) on tractors and machinery is supposed to involve 20 hours of instruction. About half of that really should be the driving practice and testing. Most youth will do better if they actually get to learn on the tractor they will be driving on the job. If you are a farmer or agri-business person interested in helping teach the class, call 620-793-1910 or e-mail me at rsnell@oznet.ksu.edu. Canola school I have had several farmers approach me in the past couple of years with interest in canola. Several growers tried it the past couple of years. Many of you crop producers are looking for a broadleaf winter crop to put into your rotation. Canola might be that possibility. We have just the meeting for you. On March 18, we will be holding a school in Great Bend on the marketing and production of canola to help those who are considering canola or would like to learn more about growing it. The local meeting will be held at the Front Door Building, 1615 10th Street, just a few blocks east of 10th and Main on the south side. K-State Research and Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency are offering three Kansas canola production schools in March. So, in case my date won't work for you, the other two might. The other two will be held March 13 at McPherson and March 19 in Pratt. Registration for each school begins at 8:30 a.m., with coffee and rolls. The program starts at 9 a.m. The program ends at approximately 3 p.m. Lunch, courtesy of the Producers Cooperative Oil Mill of Oklahoma City, will be provided at each location. There is no cost to attendees. To ensure adequate food and program materials are available, the organizers are requesting that participants pre-register approximately one week prior to the meeting by calling the appropriate Extension office. The program and speakers include: Canola Plant Growth and Development by Kraig Roozeboom, K-State Extension cropping systems specialist; Winter Canola Production Practices and Considerations by Vic Martin, Extension annual forages and alternative crops specialist; Canola Pest Management and Canola Harvest by Bill Heer, agronomist- in-charge, K-State South Central Experiment Field; Canola Variety Selection, Hybrid Canola, and Seed Treatments by Mike Stamm, KSU/OSU canola breeder; Winter Canola Crop Insurance by Jim Hamilton, USDA Risk Management Agency; Canola Marketing Opportunities; Gene Neuens, Producers Cooperative Oil Mill; and information about the Great Plains Canola Association by John Haas, board of directors. There will also be a farmer Panel and Discussion by farmers who have grown canola in central Kansas. Please call our office at 620-793-1910 to make reservations.
Date: 3/27/08 Advertisement
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