By Patrick Baron

PONTIAC – With summer officially beginning later this month, experts are urging farmers to take necessary precautions to ensure they have a fruitful and safe season.

Todd Hinkle with KSR Equipment told WJEZ’s Todd Wineburner that people should have emergency contact numbers close by should an accident occur.

Listen to WJEZ’s Todd Wineburner talk about farm safety with Todd Hinkle, Joe Swithen, and Jody Hughes:

“You gotta be aware at all times, and that’s just super important,” said Hinkle. “The power take-off shaft has, historically, been a high point for accidents.”

Compliance coordinator for Prairie Central Co-op Joe Swithen says people need to keep an eye on where they place their chemicals and to keep them out of the reach of children.

“I think you want to keep your kids and so forth away,” Swithen explained. “But you also want to keep phone numbers for people like ChemTrack or the Pontiac Emergency Services, anybody that can help with a spill of chemicals. And you definitely the number is available for the Illinois Poison Center.”

Hinkle and Swithen said farming can be dangerous, so people should always exercise caution and use proper safety procedures to minimize the risk of accidents.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].