Safety Program Marks Milestone

ALBANY, NY—The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) announced today that it has made safe the 700th tractor via its innovative rollover protection system (ROPS) rebate program, the only program of its kind in the United States. Cattaraugus County fruit farmer Dave Wilbur’s International tractor was retrofitted with the assistance of the ROPS program, bringing the program to this significant milestone.

“Agriculture remains one of the most hazardous industries in the U.S., with tractor overturns producing the greatest number of agricultural-related fatalities. Apart from the pain and suffering from the loss of loved ones in fatal incidents, there are many more roll-overs resulting in serious injury that have left farming families in ruin because a member of the family has been permanently maimed. The ROPS rebate program has been an important and proven means of preventing this type of heartbreaking tragedy from happening and I am proud to have worked with our farming community to make this successful program possible and to reach this incredible milestone,” said New York State Senator Catharine M. Young (57th Senate District), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Sen. Young and NYCAMH representatives presented Wilbur with his rebate check to help recognize the success of the ROPS program.

According to NYCAMH, a farmer’s risk of dying on the job is 800 percent higher than that of the average American worker. Tractor overturns are the primary cause of these fatal and permanently crippling injuries. In the event of a rollover, the use of ROPS and a seatbelt reduces the risk of injury by 99 percent. Tractors built after 1985 have built-in rollover protection, but most tractors in use today are older than that.

“Today, we can say unequivocally that the program is a success; the ROPS program has helped protect hundreds of farmers, their family members and workers from serious injury or even death due to a tractor overturn,” said NYCAMH’s Director Dr. John May. “Without the support of the Senate and Assembly Agriculture Committee members, this crucial program would not be possible.”

In working with a farmer, ROPS program staff find the appropriate kit to retrofit the tractor, assist farmers in completing their order and send a check to the farmer after they purchase the ROPS, up to 70% of the cost or a maximum of $765.

Wilbur and wife, Elaine, own Markham Highlands Farm in Markham, New York. They raised longhorn cattle for a number of years and are in the process of transitioning to an orchard. Their farm is 130 acres with some hills, land that years earlier was a part of the original Markham Farmstead where Wilbur’s ancestors, Joshua and Anna Markham, settled in 1858.

Wilbur has known about the ROPS program for several months and intended to purchase one, primarily because his son Kurt is spending more time on the tractor. Then a near-rollover incident this summer provided the impetus for his call to NYCAMH.

“I planned to call and just before I did, I took her up on her side and for a minute I wasn’t sure whether it would fly over,” Wilbur recalls. “So I decided to call. I don’t think that it would have gone over, but it scared me.”

While farming has never been his full-time employment, Wilbur hopes to continue farming as long as he can as his son increases his responsibility and, ultimately, inherits the farm. “The ROPS was simple,” he said. “I installed it myself in less than an hour. I should have done it a long time ago and my wife now sleeps better at night.”

Farmers may call toll free 1-877-ROPS-R4U (or 1-877-767-7748) for more information.