Tractor Safety Act to Make Life-Saving Equipment More Affordable for U.S. Farmers
Jan. 14, 2026 (FLY CREEK, NY) – Last week, the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) joined Congressman Josh Riley (D, NY-19) to announce the introduction of legislation to secure federal funding for the National ROPS Rebate Program (NRRP).
NYCAMH, a program of Bassett Healthcare Network, launched the rebate program in 2006 to help farmers afford rollover protective structures (ROPS): simple and effective life-saving equipment. The Tractor Safety Act has bipartisan support and a companion bill introduced in the Senate by lead sponsor Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R, MS). It will reinvest in the NRRP, ensuring the more than 2,500 farmers on the wait list will be able to afford their retrofit.
“The focus of NYCAMH is to keep farmers healthy and safe,” said NYCAMH Director and NRRP Co-Founder Julie Sorensen. “Rollover bars are 99% effective in protecting operators in the event of an overturn but only about 50% of tractors in the U.S. had rollover protection when we embarked on the adventure to create the National ROPS Rebate Program. This is one of the most evidence-based, impactful programs in farming today and I want to thank Congressman Riley for his support.”
The NRRP is a voluntary financial support program for farmers seeking to retrofit their tractors with a ROPS system. In New York, the program provides 70% rebates to cover the cost of purchase and installation. (The rebate rates vary by state.) Since the program’s foundation, more than 3,700 life-saving roll bars have been installed.
“Across Upstate New York we don’t just talk about problems, we don’t see challenges and shrug, we roll up our sleeves and fix what needs fixing and that’s especially true when it comes to helping our neighbors and supporting our farmers,” said Congressman Riley. “The folks at NYCAMH started this rebate program and it was going so well that folks from 27 other states started calling and asking for help. There are now thousands of tractors that have rollover protection that they wouldn’t have otherwise, all because of what started here with these folks. That is Upstate New York at its best, building what the country needs.”
In the week since the press conference, the NRRP team has received 24 new applications for funding from 15 states.
To learn more about the National ROPS Rebate Program, visit www.ROPSr4u.org, email info@ROPSr4u.org, or call 877-767-7748. To learn more about NYCAMH, visit www.nycamh.org, email info@nycamh.org, or call 607-547-6023.
