The University of Minnesota Extension is pleased to announce the new and improved Youth Tractor & Farm Safety Certification Program. This program is designed to provide youth ages 14 years old and older the opportunity to learn how to safely operate equipment above 20 horse power. The Youth Tractor & Farm Safety Certification Program includes an online learning experience combined with 2½ days of hands-on training that meet the federal requirements laid out in the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operations Program.
Purpose
In 1969, the US Department of Labor declared many agricultural tasks to be hazardous to youth younger than 16. With certain exemptions, employment of youth under 16 for tasks that require operation of a tractor and machinery is illegal unless the youth are certified. By successfully completing this certification program, 14- and 15-year-old youth may legally operate farm tractors and powered machinery for hire, which they otherwise would not be allowed to operate under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Hazardous Occupations Order in Agriculture.
Training details
This Youth Tractor & Farm Safety Certification Program will be hosted at the following locations:
• June 15 and June 22-23 in Preston and Spring Valley (Fillmore County)
• June 19-21 in Caledonia (Houston County)
• June 20-22 in Glencoe (McLeod County)
The online portion of the training will be made available to students June 1 and must be completed before the students attend their first day of in-person training. The training is designed to cover core content areas including safety basics, agricultural hazards, tractors, connecting and using implements with tractors and materials handling. By federal law, students will be required to pass a written exam and two driving or skills exams to pass the course. Design and implementation of these programs are brought to you by local FFA, implement dealers and agribusinesses.
Registration
Registration for the program opens May 8 and can be accessed through the program website at http://z.umn.edu/1erz. Registration is limited to youth 14 years old and older and each training location will take a maximum of 20 students. The registration fee for the course is $20.
Questions or comments?
Interested in more information about the event or registration, please contact the corresponding Extension office and Extension Educator:
Michael Cruse, UMN Extension Educator – Fillmore and Houston County; Phone: (507) 765-3896 or email: mjcruse@umn.edu.
Karen Johnson, UMN Extension Educator – McLeod and Meeker County; Phone: (320) 484-4303 or email: ande9495@umn.edu.
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