THIS IS GRAIN BIN SAFETY WEEK.

JOE SMALL WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS IT’S EASY FOR FARMERS TO BECOME COMPLACENT WHEN WORKING IN AND AROUND GRAIN BINS, BUT THAT CONDITIONS CAN QUICKLY BECOME DANGEROUS. SMALL SAYS THIS CAN OCCUR WHEN THE CONDITION OF THE GRAIN IS POOR AND CLUMPING.

HE HAS THIS ADVICE:

SMALL SAYS FARMERS SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE WITH THEM, WEAR A HARNESS WITH A PROPERLY SECURED ROPE, AND BREAK UP CRUSTED GRAIN FROM OUTSIDE THE BIN WITH A LONG POLE IF POSSIBLE.