Ag safety will be among topics highlighted at the upcoming Delaware Ag Week Jan. 8-11 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds.

In partnership with the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police, the Delaware Farm Bureau will offer a presentation on rural road safety for farmers during Ag Week to help keep safety in the forefront for attendees.

This presentation is scheduled Jan. 9 from 6-8 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall at the Delaware State Fairgrounds.

The Improving Road Safety for Farm Equipment – It’s Up to All of Us presentation will include the following topics:

• The worst actually can happen
• Your responsibility and liability under the law
• The traffic is crazy out there
• Enhanced hazard lighting for your equipment
• Effectively escorting your equipment
• Working proactively with law enforcement
• Achieving peace of mind and safe travels

“I have personally had several near misses on the roadways when moving equipment. We have to accept that the public doesn’t fully understand the potential danger. We need to plan in a way that minimizes our risk and theirs at the same time,” Delaware Farm Bureau Executive Director and farmer Don Clifton said.

“The reality is that every step we take to ensure the safety of ourselves, our workers, and our community is an important one. It could save lives.”

In recent years, the Delaware Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Education Committee successfully advocated for the inclusion of rural road safety topics in the state driver’s education manual and test so new drivers have a better understanding of what might meet them on rural roads in the First State.

This includes the use of the slow-moving vehicle emblem and what to do if a driver encounters a farm vehicle while on the road.

The committee also created a brochure on the topic which is displayed at all Department of Motor Vehicle locations in Delaware.

“We need to continually bring these topics up to farmers and the public because they are vitally important. I’m grateful that the Office of Highway Safety and the Association of Chiefs of Police are partnering with us. We share the same goals when it comes to road safety,” Mr. Clifton said.

Ag Week is planned and presented by the Delaware Department of Agriculture, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Delaware State University Cooperative Extension.

For more information on Ag Week offerings, visit https://sites.udel.edu/delawareagweek/. For more information on the Delaware Farm Bureau, visit defb.org.