National Farm Safety and Health Week in Door and Kewaunee Counties is focusing just as much on the mental side of things as much as the physical. The annual campaign, which coincides with the fall harvest season, focuses on safety around tractors, confined spaces, and other agricultural aspects. Recently, more emphasis has been placed on farmers’ mental health as the suicide rates have started to climb. Kewaunee County UW-Extension Agriculture Agent Aerica Bjurstrom says as important as it is to take care of your fields and your animals, it is even more imperative to watch over yourself during this stressful time.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the agricultural sector is the most dangerous in the country with 581 deaths in 2017. National Farm Safety and Health Week runs through Saturday.
