The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/122355
A-10 The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Preparation, double-checking are key to spring planting safety By Amanda Gee With sunny days becoming more frequent and soil temperatures rising, a Purdue Extension agricultural safety specialist warns farmers not to let their enthusiasm for spring planting lead to injuries. Instead, growers need to take a few extra minutes to double-check equipment that has been idle over the winter and keep safety precautions in mind. "Farmers need to make sure before they go into planting season that the safety guards are in place on their equipment," Steve Wettschurack said. "May- be a piece was taken off last fall because it was broken or worn out, but now it needs to be replaced. They should make sure they've looked at hydraulic hoses and anything else that might be a yearly repair before heading out to the fields. "Not cutting corners is important. It only takes a few minutes to make sure a piece of equipment is safe and ready for transport." Safety equipment such as headlights, taillights, hazard signs, goggles and gloves also should be checked before planting begins. Most farm equipment has a large width when fully extended, but Wettschurack said farmers moving equipment should always fold it into transport position. "Some toolbars on planters are 90 feet wide when they're opened up in the field, and we're talking about a roadway that 's 12 feet wide," he said. "They're designed to fold themselves up, maybe numerous times, to get down to roadway width." Planters, discs, field cultivators and other equipment can be folded up hydraulically in a matter of minutes. The equipment should be fully folded between fields - no matter the distance between them - for the safety of the farmer and other drivers. Non-farm drivers also should be extra cautious on the roads during planting season. "Unfortunately, it seems like we have people in a lot more of a hurry today, and they don't quite want to get over as much as they used to," Wettschurack said. "But give the farmer that courtesy. And the farmer needs to give that individual on the road courtesy to make sure they get by each other safely." Wettschurack also advised farmers to do general inspections of anhydrous ammonia tanks before using them in the fields. If a tank has a water storage supply on the side, it needs to be full before going out in the field. A nhydrous ammonia, when spilled, can cause severe burns to eyes, lungs and skin. Because it is attracted to water, the best way to minimize injury after a spill is to douse the victim with water. "Copious amounts of water is the No. 1 thing to do pre-hospital if you get a drop of anhydrous on you. The more water the better," Wettschurack said. He cautioned farmers to keep the wind at their backs when applying anhydrous ammonia to avoid exposure. If the wind is from the south, farmers need to keep equipment north of them so the anhydrous is blowing away. Farmers should also check gauges, tires and wheel bearings for signs of distress or rust. "A tire blowing out when going 30 miles an hour down the road can cause a lot of damage," Wettschurack said. Five tips to shore up friendships before the next storm hits By Amy Patterson Neubert Charging flashlight batteries is a good way to prepare for severe weather, but charging your social networks can save your life when disaster strikes, says a Purdue University expert. "People who fare better or even survive after a disaster like Superstorm Sandy or Hurricane Katrina often credit that to their neighbors," says Daniel P. Aldrich, an associate professor of political science and a disaster recovery expert. "Unfortunately, knowing one's neighbors is not as common because adults spend more time indoors and in front of TV and computer screens. Now is the time to step outside to strengthen or build new community friendships because they are such a valuable part of our lives whether there is a disaster or not. And, talking about weather is always a good conversation starter." A ldrich has five tips for making friends and strengthening relationships before the next storm: 1. Act like Mr. Rogers and get to know your neighbors. Most rescues in the immediate aftermath of disasters are carried out by neighbors and not professionally trained first responders. 2. Work to build networks at the neighborhood level by Cattle producers should prevent, watch for grass tetany By Jennifer Stewart As pastures start to green up in the eastern Corn Belt, cattle producers need to be aware of the risk of grass tetany in grazing animals, a Purdue Extension beef specialist says. Grass tetany, or grass staggers, is a nutritional disease that cattle get from grasses high in water content and potassium and low in other nutrients, such as magnesium and calcium. Older cows that have just calved and are in peak lactation are the most susceptible. The risk increases in pastures that have been heavily fertilized with nitrogen, so those producers who have spread fertilizers such as poultry litter, hog manure or urea are more at risk. While the condition is treatable if caught early enough, Ron Lemenager said it's best to prevent it altogether. "The easiest way to prevent grass tetany is to start these cows on a high magnesium mineral prior to going to grass in the spring," he said. "That mineral mix should have a minimum of 8 percent magnesium, and it could be 12 percent or higher." The problem with a high magnesium supplement is that the source is typically magnesium oxide, which isn't something cattle like to eat. "What we'll see is that a lot of commercial mineral mixes containing magnesium will include a palatability enhancer - something like dried distillers grains, soybean hulls, wheat midds or dried molasses - to help encourage consumption," Lemenager said. "We're looking at, typically, 4 ounces of mineral consumption to get adequate levels of magnesium when it's included in the supplement at 8 to 12 percent." The peak season for grass tetany is April through early May, so now is the time to keep an eye on grazing animals. If a cow is stricken with grass tetany, the cattle producer doesn't have long to respond. Often, cows will die within 2-3 hours of the first symptoms. Those symptoms include stumbling and staggering, trembling muscles, muscle twitches, excitability, stiff gait, grinding teeth and eventually violent convulsions, coma and death. "The treatment is an IV administration of magnesium and dextrose, which is probably going to require veterinarian intervention," Lemenager said. "So if you see one of those cows that's acting a little funny, it's probably time to call the vet and get this cow treated. If you wait, the next time you see that cow, she'll probably be dead." More information about grass tetany, including prevention, symptoms and treatment, is available in Lemenager's video, "Grass Tetany: A Primer," which can be found at http://www. thebeefcenter.com by clicking the video link in the left column. netedition It's the paper. Just digital. attending concerts, block parties and sports events in the area. 3. Connect with disaster managers, heads of churches and other important contacts who will be active following disaster. 4. Make a list of the email addresses, phone numbers and permanent addresses of people nearby, especially those who might need your assistance when the power goes out. 5. Invest in the community through volunteer work. Aldrich is author of the book "Building Resilience: Social Capital in Post-Disaster Recovery," which includes a study of the recovery of various neighborhoods after Hurricane Katrina. He also has studied disaster recovery and community rebuilding following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in Tamil Nadu, the 1923 earthquake in Tokyo and the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan. 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