Farm safety advocates will gather at the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs Iowa for The Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health Conference on November 27-29. The theme for the conference is “Stressing Resilience.”

The Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center will co-host the conference along with two Iowa agricultural safety and health organizations. The conference keynote speaker will be nationally known farm management consultant Dick Wittman, said CS-CASH coordinator Ellen Duysen. Wittman will give a presentation titled “Planning and Management, Keys to Reducing Stress and Improving Resilience in Agriculture.”

“The conference draws people from a variety of backgrounds," Duysen said, "but all in attendance are concerned about some aspect of keeping farmers, farmworkers and their families safe and healthy. This year’s attendees can elect to attend the full conference, a single day, or one of three special workshops”.

Workshops include an Immigrant Worker Health and Safety program on Tuesday November 27 from 12-4 p.m. It will be presented by Mark Grey, director of the Iowa Center for Immigrant Leadership and Integration at the University of Northern Iowa. Registration is $10 and includes lunch.

Anhydrous ammonia safety training will be the focus of a workshop on Wednesday, November 28, from 6-9 p.m. at the Treynor Iowa Fire Department. This hands-on workshop includes training on an anhydrous tank simulator and is targeted to emergency responders including fire fighters and EMS. The workshop will be conducted by Dan Neenan, director of the National Education Center for Farm Safety (NECAS). This workshop is free to firefighters and EMS personnel and includes supper. Register by calling NECAS at 888-844-6322

Dan Neenan will also present Anhydrous Ammonia Safety Training targeted to farmers, elevator and co-op staff, and the public Thursday, November 29, from 12-2:30 pm. Registration is $10 and includes lunch.

Conference and registration information is available online or by contacting Ellen Duysen at ellen.duysen@unmc.edu. Discounted rates are available for farmers and students.