Tractor overturns are the leading cause of farm-related deaths. That’s why it’s so important that each tractor have a rollover protective structure (ROPS).
The National Farm Medicine Center will give away a free ROPS (with installation) at the GrassWorks Grazing Conference 2018, Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells. Entries will be taken in-person on Wednesday, Jan. 31, with the drawing held at the awards dinner Wednesday night. Just stop by the National Farm Medicine Center table at the trade show to enter. You need not be present to win.
One lucky Wisconsin tractor owner will get the free ROPS, and all who register will be enrolled in the National Farm Medicine Center Wisconsin ROPS Rebate Program (www.ropsr4u.com), which reimburses owners up to 70 percent (maximum of $865) toward the total cost of purchasing, shipping and installing individual ROPS. Enrollees will be mailed retrofit options and costs for their particular tractor.
The program, which just installed its 200th ROPS, is run by the National Farm Medicine Center (www.marshfieldresearch.org/nfmc) at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, with philanthropic support from the Auction of Champions. A ROPS is an operator compartment structure (usually cab or rollbar) intended to protect operators from injuries caused by overturns or rollovers. More than half the tractors in Wisconsin do not have this protection. A ROPS, when used with a seatbelt, is 99 percent effective in preventing injury or death in the event of an overturn.
Can’t get to the Grazing Conference? No problem. Wisconsin farmers can apply for a ROPS rebate via the hotline, 1-877-767-7748 (1-877-ROPSR4U), or the Web site, www.ropsr4u.com.
For information on the Grazing Conference, go to http://grassworks.org.
