News

Grain Handling Safety Coalition formed

The deaths of two teenagers from Mt. Carroll, Illinois and another death at Geneseo this past summer due to grain bin engulfment has brought several groups in Illinois together to form the Grain Handling Safety Coalition.

“We put this together largely focused on hoping to raise awareness and education among farmers and among the commercial grain industry about the dangers of being in grain bins if you’ve got equipment running,” said Jeff Adkisson, Executive V.P. of the Illinois Grain and Feed Association.

The Coalition motto is; “Sow Safety. Reap Rewards,” and their goal Adkisson says, is to reduce and if possible eliminate accidents, injuries and fatalities.

“Nobody wants to go to another funeral in a farming community because of the lack of judgment or miscalculation by someone and they get engulfed in a grain bin,” Adkisson said. “We hope that this effort helps.”

Adkisson says the Coalition is in the process of producing Public Service Announcements, as well as educational projects focused on raising the awareness in the farm community.

Interview: Jeff Adkisson, IL Grain and Feed Assn. (3:05 MP3)