Remember Your Local Farmers During National Farm Safety Week [AUDIO]

ST. CLOUD -- Every day farmers put themselves through challenges that may put them in harms way.

This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week.

University of Minnesota Extension educator Dan Martens says this is a good time to remind us about the dangerous work farmers do.

Farm safety week started back in 1944 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the first proclamation.

Martens says there are a lot of dangers that come with farming. And, with harvest season around the corner, it's a nice reminder to make sure farmers take precaution.

Nearly half of all tractors in the U.S. are older models without rollover protective structures (ROPS) and many operators of tractors with ROPS don't use the seatbelt.

National Farm Safety and Health week runs until Saturday (September 27th).