How often do you come across an unsafe situation on your farm and vow to fix it some day? What if we could help?
The John May Farm Safety Fund provides matching funds to small and mid-sized farm operations for repairs and upgrades that make for a safer workplace. You pay half. We pay half, up to 50% of the cost or $5,000 for farm safety.
Location: Lawtons – Erie County
Amount awarded: $5,000
Total project cost: $17,000
Low ceilings in the barn at Niefergold Dairy made it dangerous for employees to work with animals, and old electrical wiring in the barn created fire and safety hazards. With assistance from the John May Fund, owner David Niefergold Dairy was able to make the necessary upgrades to keep workers and animals safe.
– David Niefergold
Location: Cazenovia, Madison County
Amount awarded: $825
Total Project cost: $1,650
The Bineyard strives to expand its hops operation while maintaining a high level of safety for all of their employees. With the John May Farm Safety Fund’s help, owner Chad Meigs was able to purchase safety equipment for stringing, harvesting, and processing the hops. Scaffolding, fire extinguishers, and safety harnesses all support healthy and safe farming of hops.
– Chad Meigs
Location: Southold – Suffolk County
Amount awarded: $1,800
Total project cost: $3,650
The Noank Aquaculture Cooperative used its award to repair a shared workspace for all aquaculture farmers in the co-op—the docks. Safety repairs included a slip-resistant access ramp, new guardrails and dock line markings. Other improvements included US Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices, safety ladders and shellfish sorting platform repairs.
– Karen Rivera
Location: Warwick – Orange County
Amount awarded: $2,400
Total project cost: $4,800
Farm owner Dominique Herman handles a flock of 300 sheep on her own. With assistance from the John May Farm Safety Fund, she was able to buy a tilt table and animal handling chute so that she can trim hooves and administer vaccines without risking musculoskeletal injuries.
– Dominique Herman
Location: Central Square, Oswego County
Amount awarded: $3,650
Total Project cost: $7,300
Twin Mill Brook’s Holstein and Jersey cows can walk up to the farms’ robotic milking equipment on their own schedule. Upgrades to the gating system around the robotic facility allow staff, who often work alone, to safely guide newly freshened heifers and cows that are unfamiliar with the process. With help from the fund, owner Melissa Booth also added a cattle chute to keep cows secure and employees safe while attending to the animals’ wellness needs.
– Melissa Booth
Through this unique cost-sharing program, New York State farmers are eligible to receive 50% off the cost, up to $5,000 fo farm safety upgrades.
1.
Submit completed application including: farm information, safety need, project proposal and cost estimates.
2.
NYCAMH staff will review all parts of the submitted application to ensure it is complete and meets all grant eligibility requirements. The farmer may be contacted to supply extra information about the proposed project.
3.
A NYCAMH farm safety specialist visits the farm to conduct a free, confidential walkthrough of the farm. The safety specialist reviews project plans, helps identify other farm hazards and offers solutions to reduce risk of injury. A detailed report is shared with the farmer.
4.
A multidisciplinary committee reviews all proposed project documentation. Applicants must wait for approval of their project. Any costs incurred prior to approval will not be reimbursed.
5.
If a project is approved, a farm may begin supply purchases and project implementation. A program coordinator will call monthly to check on progress. A farm has one year after approval to complete its project.
6.
Upon completion of the project, submit a final expenditure summary with receipts. Proof of completed project via photos or an on-farm visit is required.
7.
A check for 50% of project costs, up to $5,000, is sent to the farm after all requested paperwork is submitted.
email us at JMFSF@bassett.org
We know how complex grant applications can be, so we’ve kept ours simple.
You only need to meet three criteria. If you are…
1. An active farmer, part-time or full-time, and…
2. A New York State resident, and…
3. Grossing an annual farm income of $10,000 to $999,999, or a dairy farm
Then this program is for you!
Farms are one of the most dangerous workplaces in the country,
and one of the few work environments where family members are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injury.
Every day, more than 100 agricultural workers in the United States suffer a lost work-time injury.
Seven out of 10 farms go out of business within 5 years after a farm accident
The annual cost of injuries in agriculture is $8.3 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity.
Farm safety projects funded
Dispersed to New York farmers
Dr. John May (at right) founded NYCAMH in the early 1980s with Bassett colleague Dr. David Pratt to improve the health and safety of New York farmers. The John May Farm Safety Fund honors his decades of profound dedication to the agricultural community by providing assistance to make necessary safety improvements on small and medium-sized farms.
“If you talk to a farmer, everybody knows somebody that had something really bad happen to them. In most walks of life, you don’t know people who have been killed on the job. Every farmer knows somebody who has been killed on the job.”
– Dr. John May
You can make changes on your farm to decrease the risk of injury. Even small changes will make a difference. Here are examples of changes made by NY farmers with the John May Farm Safety Fund’s help. Contact us for additional information.
Phone: 607-547-6023
Toll free: 800-343-7527
info@NYCAMH.org
One Atwell Road
Cooperstown, NY 13326
© Copyright all rights reserved.
