MAGNOLIA — Farmers and ag professionals filled the Magnolia Barn at Loblolly Acres March 22 for the 6th annual Delaware Ag Safety Conference hosted by the Delaware Farm Bureau’s Promotion & Education Committee.

“Safety is actually everyone’s responsibility. Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations, so it is extremely important for safety to be at the top of our priorities,” said event Chair June Unruh of Townsend.

Delaware’s Department of Agriculture Secretary Michael T. Scuse helped open the event, seconding the importance of safety topics which can often be overlooked in the bustle of daily farming activities.

“I want to thank Farm Bureau for hosting this safety conference each and every year,” he said.

“This is extremely important. Most of you understand that agriculture is, without a doubt, one of the most dangerous, if not the most dangerous, occupation in the United States. Some have rated it as number one as far as danger is concerned. And for a whole host of reasons. We work long hours, different types of equipment, we’re tired seven days a week, 16-hour days and sometimes we all get in a very big hurry and I’m as guilty as anyone in this room.

“I also want to take the opportunity to thank Farm Bureau for its leadership in grain bin safety and all of the tubes that Farm Bureau has bought to be scattered around the state. The Soybean Board, because of Farm Bureau’s great leadership, . . . has also purchased some of the grain bin tubes. So now when you look at a map of where these tubes are located, we’ve got a fire company that is only minutes away from every grain tank in the state of Delaware. But again, it’s because of the leadership of Farm Bureau and knowing how dangerous those grain tanks can be,” said Sec. Scuse.

The conference, created in partnership with Nationwide, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Loblolly Acres, featured presentations throughout the day on hay bale safety, pesticide use, ticks in Delaware, safety around moving equipment and mental health. Participants earned a pesticide credit for participating in the event.