FarmSafe Podcast
In the blink of an eye a farm injury can change your life. Sharing stories of events, close-calls, and effective safety strategies can help you identify on farm risks and figure out ways to prevent devastating injuries and illnesses. The Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health presents FarmSafe, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories and tips to help make your work on the farm safer and healthier. Original music for the FarmSafe podcast was written and performed by Ben Schmidt. This work was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health. The content does not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC or NIOSH.
FarmSafe Podcast
The Tipping Point: Understanding Tractor Stability
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As farmers return to the fields, this FarmSafe episode brings attention to tractor rollover risks. We bring in Aaron Yoder to explain the basics about a vehicle’s center of gravity, which is important to understand both with and without loads. When the weight is balanced, a tractor’s center of gravity is between the front and back axles and between left and right tires. As long as this center of gravity is within this “stability baseline”, the tractor remains upright. Once it shifts outside that boundary, a rollover becomes unavoidable. Our discussion emphasizes how sloping terrain affects rollover risks. Understanding risks, maintaining equipment, and practicing safe operation—especially on slopes—are key to preventing serious injuries.
Episode Resources
- Pre-Operational Checklist, GPCAH
- Information on the NSTMOP Program: Ag Safety Extension Page and Penn State University Page
- Tractor Stability Overview, NSTMOP Program Manual
- Tractor Stability Presentation, NSTMOP
- Testing Tractor Stability Videos, Penn State University
- Used Farm Equipment: Assessing Quality, Safety, and Economics, Small Farm Series, Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service