LONDON, Ohio – Safety is of high concern with any farmer. For this reason, Dee Jepsen, state agricultural safety and health leader at Ohio State University, is a common presenter at each Farm Science Review (FSR).

Jepsen also serves as co-chair of the Rural and Farm Stress Task Force, a program designed to connect farmers and their families with specialists for support on farm operations, mental health and career transitions. Jepsen is a frequent speaker on ag safety, burn bans, grain bin safety and farm stress management.

This year, Jepsen and her staff are concentrating on three key areas of concern at FSR: grain engulfment, livestock transportation emergencies and manure pit safety.

“This year we’re focusing on firemen, EMTs and other first responders, and we have these different opportunities for them to come participate in specialized training,” Jepsen said. “These workshops equip first responders with critical skills to navigate complex farm emergencies, but they’re also for the general public to see as well.”

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), three Ohio farmers died this year due to grain-related entrapments. There was a total of 51 agriculture confined space incidents in the state in 2025.

For this reason, the Grain C.A.R.T. (Comprehensive Agricultural Rescue Trailer) will make its annual visit at this year’s show. At this stop, visitors can learn all about safety needed around grain bins and the hazards that lurk on the farm. In addition, a grain dust simulator will be on display.

“A common site at each show is our rescue trailer because grain bin fatalities happen each year,” Jepsen said. “Such fatalities occur for a variety of reasons with the two most common being suffocation by engulfment and entanglement with moving parts.

“The CART creates various levels of rescue exercises that simulates real life rescue situations that first responders may encounter in rural emergencies. By being here at Farm Science Review, we show how quickly someone can be engulfed by flowing grain and it educates both farmers and emergency responders on how to prevent accidents and conduct rescues safely. The CART brings awareness for hazards on farms and reinforces best management practices while working in and around grain storage bins.”

The purpose of the CART was to build a state-of-the-art mobile grain bin rescue training unit for direct delivery training and outreach education. OSU Extension and the Ohio Farm Academy have a history of agricultural rescue education collaboration that began in the late 1980s. The program has been requested by communities, hospitals, and fire departments for on-site delivery at events such as county fairs, Bureau of Workers’ Compensation regional training events, and regional continuing education events for first responders. The actions at the CART will occur several times each day of the show.

The Livestock Transportation and Bovine Emergency Training will take place Sept. 23 from 3-6 p.m. on Kottman Street, between Friday and Land avenues. 

“Livestock training is highly important for first responders,” Jepsen said. “For example, whenever a livestock trailer crashes and the animals get loose there’s a protocol in handling this situation. Such an event could include an overturned beef cattle trailer or a semi full of chickens. Policemen and firemen need to be trained on how to handle these situations.”

Jepsen points out that no live animals will be present during the demonstrations.

“We will be focusing on managing complex roadside livestock transport accidents,” Jepsen said. “The training will feature hands-on demonstrations using trailers and specialized equipment. We will provide standardized protocols to improve scene stabilization, animal welfare and responder safety.”

Manure Pit Rescue and Confined Space Training will be Sept. 22 from 3-6 p.m. at the Soil & Water Conservation Park at the corner of Beef Street and Friday Avenue. The presenter will be Dan Neenan, director of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.

Neenan will guide firefighters, emergency personnel and local farmers through the hazards of manure storage facilities. Participants will learn air quality monitoring techniques and practice using body harnesses, lifelines and retrieval equipment designed for safe confined-space rescues.

“On-farm manure storage poses a risk for injury or death not only to farmers, but to those who respond to emergencies on the farm,” Neenan said. “This training saves lives, and it is important for rural volunteer firefighters to train in agricultural rescue techniques. Many rural departments have not had training with confined space incidents, which could place both the victim and firefighters in danger.”

Jepsen added that manure handling equipment continues to evolve, farmers and custom applicators should remember to keep safety a priority. The main concerns with manure pits, Jepsen said, are methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and the displacement of oxygen.

“It takes about 4 percent concentration of methane to displace one percent of oxygen, enough to affect thinking and functioning,” Jepsen said.

One of the biggest myths, Jepsen said, is not understanding what defines a confined space, and the dangerous gasses that can be found within.

“Manure storage areas and open-air structures such as lagoons and manure pits fit the definition of a confined space, because they have a limited opening for entry and exit,” she said. “They produce dangerous air contaminants with unfavorable ventilation and are not intended for human occupancy.”

While some dangers may seem obvious, Jepsen said there are still safety protocols that need to be considered.

“A big risk is getting too comfortable with a particular manure-holding structure,” Jepsen said. “Conditions can change in a manure pit from day to day, and season to season, resulting in different gasses being emitted.”

As will be illustrated at this year’s show, Jepsen said farmers should be aware of a rescue plan, adding that they should have a written manure safety plan at the farm and share it with employees and possibly first-responders.

“While our target audiences are volunteer firefighters, police, local officials and emergency management personnel, we hope farmers will attend stop by and witness these trainings,” Jepsen said.