Old MacDonald had a farm, SAFETY. Although these are not the traditional lyrics of the popular nursery rhyme sung today, if this iconic farmer had been a better speller, it very well could have been. Old MacDonald was a wise and experienced soul, and in his later years of life he created this song to remind young farmers of the importance of safety on a farm. But are safety procedures on a farm really necessary? According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the average death rate for agricultural workers is seven times higher than the average rate for workers, and in 2011, 570 workers died while working on a farm (“agricultural”). . Farmers work very hard to provide food for the nation; they also put themselves in dangerous situations when operating heavy equipment. Therefore, farmers need to be aware of the many dangers they may encounter while working on a farm and the steps they can take to ensure their safety. Although industrialized equipment has enabled more efficient food production, agricultural machinery can also pose a safety risk. For more than a decade, the leading cause of death among farmers has been tractor rollovers; however, practical steps can be taken to avoid a rollover or to survive a rollover if one occurs. The hills of West Virginia make for a picturesque setting, but they also make operating a tractor dangerous. A West Virginia farmer would benefit from purchasing a tractor with a wide front end and using a wider wheel spacing, because a wider tractor provides more stability on a side slope. Proper ballasting of a tractor gives the driver stability, as well as control. While a farmer operates heavy equipment on the back of a tractor, he should balance the front... middle of paper... a long and fulfilling life. Works Cited Prather, Timothy G. “Preventing and Surviving Tractor Rollovers.” University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. Internet. April 19, 2014. “Part-time farmer dies after tractor rollover in West Virginia.” » Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 19, 2002. Web. April 19, 2014. .“Agricultural operations”. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Internet. April 19, 2014. “PTO Safety (PDF). » Penn State Extension. Pennsylvania State University. January 2014 Web. April 19. 2014. .