A million-dollar grant acknowledges that farmers and families living in rural areas battle many of the same mental health challenges as urban residents face.

As farmers head out to their fields, locating underground utility lines may not be at the top of their safety checklists.

But this knowledge should be a top priority, said Leslie Woolington, a risk management specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

PITTSBORO, Miss. -- Emergency responders and farmers will learn grain bin safety practices and rescue procedures during two workshops on April 17.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service is hosting the grain bin rescue training programs at the Calhoun County Extension Office. Both programs are coordinated with the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.

Training for producers and farm laborers will be held from 2-4 p.m. Agricultural workers will learn preliminary steps to take when someone gets trapped in a grain bin.

Mississippi farmers are gearing up for the 2018 growing season, which means everyone needs to be prepared to share the road with tractors and other equipment.

Patrick Poindexter, Alcorn County coordinator with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said being aware and patient can keep everyone safe.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Decorated homes and busy kitchens mark the holiday season for many families, but this time of year also brings an increased number of safety hazards.

Decor and cooking fires increase during the holidays, causing numerous deaths and injuries, as well as millions of dollars in property damage. Between 2009 and 2013, U.S. fire departments responded to about 1,070 home fires a year started by holiday decorations, including Christmas trees, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

COWART, Miss. -- Mississippi farmers can safely get rid of unusable agricultural chemicals and old tires during a free disposal event on Feb. 24 in Tallahatchie County.

Event organizers will accept insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and other pesticide products at the Cowart Gin Yard and Tallahatchie Farmers Supply located at 3990 Tippo Road between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

No rinsates, household waste pesticides or products in bulk containers will be accepted.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Riding all-terrain vehicles is a fun adventure until tragedy strikes, but simple practices can keep riders safe.

Jesse Wilson, a high school senior from Lowndes County, has firsthand experience with an ATV disaster. Wilson was driving up a steep ditch when his ATV fell back on top of him because of excess weight on the back of the vehicle. He was not wearing any safety gear at the time. Wilson broke his shoulder because of this accident, and had to have surgery.

WEST POINT, Miss. -- Young Mississippians eager to complete the safety course required for operating all-terrain vehicles on public lands can sign up for free classes offered during ATV Safety Week, June 6-14.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- This week marks National Farm Safety and Health Week and it is the perfect time to recognize the dangers of harvest equipment on the highways.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 70 percent of traffic fatalities in Mississippi occur on rural roads. In addition to being more common, crashes on rural roads tend to be more severe and are more likely to result in death. Farm equipment can be a hazard rural roads any time of year, but harvest time means increased traffic.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Farming families believe the country is a great place to raise kids, but sometimes familiarity with farming equipment can lead to a false sense of security.

“The farm can be a dangerous place for children because they play where they work, and it’s hard for them to separate the two concepts,” said Ted Gordon, safety specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “They don’t readily recognize the hazards on the farm, and they must be taught how to see the dangers and how to avoid them.”

MISSISSIPPI STATE – With Mississippi’s bumper corn crop on target to break records, proper post-harvest handling is essential, especially efforts to prevent deaths by grain entrapment.

As farmers plant more grain crops, on-site storage bins are popping up all over the state.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Planning ahead for Halloween can help keep the bandages on the mummy costume instead of an injured child.

Ted Gordon, Mississippi State University Extension safety specialist at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona, advised both parents and homeowners to prepare for Halloween festivities with a few simple tips.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The odds of being hit by lightning may seem remote, but the threat is real, and outdoor -- and some indoor -- activities should be altered when thunderstorms are nearby.

Mike Brown, associate professor in geosciences at Mississippi State University, is a seasoned storm chaser. When he is educating new storm chasers, he emphasizes the threats that come from lightning.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- On April 24, a series of tornadoes ripped through central Mississippi leaving 15 counties with substantial damage from wind, hail and water. As Mississippians begin the long process of rebuilding and cleaning up their tornado-ravaged landscapes, there are ways to make the process safer and easier.

Safety is the first consideration when removing damaged trees or large limbs that have fallen on electric power lines or pose other hazards to homes or people. Hire a professional to do this when the job is not safe.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippians have experience coping with extreme heat, but the opposite end of the thermometer is unfamiliar and equally dangerous territory for them.

Jane Clary, health specialist with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service, said health and safety concerns increase when weather conditions go to extremes. The first step in coping with the conditions is to prepare for them.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Remodelers should follow lead-safe practices that will be taught at sessions around the state in November and December.

Mississippi State University’s Extension Service will offer several Renovation, Repair and Painting Certification Training sessions in full-day courses and half-day refresher courses. The full-day courses are $150, and half-day courses are $85. The sessions are being presented by the Alliance for Healthy Homes and funded in part by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi drivers know to look out year-round for deer trying to cross roads, but fall brings another driving challenge when farm machinery joins the vehicles on the road.

Herb Willcutt, agricultural engineer with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the state averages 125 collisions a year involving motorists and farm machinery.

By Steven Nalley
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Both children and adults must follow safety rules to protect children from the dangers of riding, entering and exiting school buses.

Karen Benson is an area child and family development agent based in Neshoba County with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. She said children who move throughout the bus while it is moving risk not only falling, but also distracting the driver.

By Courtney Coufal
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Many Mississippians will celebrate this Fourth of July at home, as high fuel prices cut into budgets, but they still can have a safe and memorable holiday weekend.

A survey conducted by Travelzoo.com revealed that six in 10 Americans feel it would be easier to host a large barbecue gathering during the holiday weekend than to find an affordable airline ticket.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Many national and state campaigns promoting rural safety focus on the responsibility of adults to protect children, but it helps when kids know how to keep themselves safe.

Children remain at risk when adults are careless or disregard what they have learned. Many county Extension offices hold an annual agricultural safety day for children to strengthen the overall effort of reducing risk.