University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

UNL Extension offers tractor and machinery safety classes for youth

National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) classes will be offered by UNL Extension in several sites across the state this summer. Federal law prohibits youth under 16 from working on farms other than their parents. Successful completion of this course grants an exemption for 14- and 15-year olds to engage in agricultural employment. Course completion also fulfills the driving and testing requirement to operate machinery on public roads.

This program’s goal is to reduce the number of injuries and deaths in agriculture. Ag fatalities in Nebraska have averaged 32 per year, many of them children. This year there have already been four Nebraska ag related fatalities. Three were on all-terrain vehicles and one by animal. ATV safety will be one of the sections covered since ATV fatalities now outnumber those from tractor rollovers.

Training sessions, which require participants to pre-register, are currently scheduled for the following sites:

Contact the Extension Office in the host county for further details on class times, meals and to pre-register.

For the North Platte training session, there will be a 10-hour course with driving tests to follow by appointment. Contact the Lincoln/McPherson Extension office at (308) 532-2683. Cost is $15.

For Alliance call 308-762-5616 and for Scottsbluff /Gering call 308-632-1480 to pre-register. There is a $35 fee for materials and the first day meal. The second day will be a shorter day for testing so participants should bring a sack lunch.

For the Franklin County class in Franklin, pre-register by May 30. All materials are provided free.

For the O'Neill class, cost is $5. Call 402-336-2760 to register.

For the Ogallala meeting, pre-register by May 31 and bring a sack lunch. Pre-registration is required as participants must complete the study materials prior to the training sessions. Cost for the training is $10. For more information or to register call 308-284-6051 or 800-200-1380.

For the Adams/Webster/Clay/Nuckolls 4-H Tractor Driving and Safety Course, contact the Webster County Extension Office at (402) 746-3417 by June 10 to pre-register. This course is open to all youth ages 12 and over. Youth 13 years or older will receive a farm husbandry permit to drive on public roadways while working for their parents. Youth 14 and over will receive a farm husbandry permit to operate equipment on roadways for compensation other than by parents. This is a 10-hour course with a written and driving test; participants should bring a sack lunch.

The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) was developed after the U.S. Department of Labor declared in 1969 that many agricultural tasks are hazardous for youth. Employment of youth under 16 to perform these tasks is illegal except for those working on their parents’ farm and those completing the exemption class. Producers who violate this law can be fined up to $10,000 the first time. A second offense can have the fine plus imprisonment for up to six months.

Watch CropWatch for additional class dates as they become available.

Bill Booker
Extension Educator, Box Butte County
David Morgan
Extension Safety Engineer, Lincoln

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Copyright 2006 by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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