Presidential Documents

49301 

Federal Register 

Vol. 74, No. 185 

Friday, September 25, 2009 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8420 of September 21, 2009 

National Farm Safety and Health Week, 2009 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Our Nation’s prosperity has been built on the skill and productivity of 

our farmers and ranchers. Two centuries ago, many American families toiled 

in fields and grasslands so that they might feed themselves. Today, those 

in the agricultural sector provide food, fiber, biofuels, and many other life 

necessities for millions across our Nation and around the world. The hard 

work and talent of those in the agricultural industry, and continued advances 

in technology and efficiency, have provided great security to the United 

States. 

As they offer great benefits to our Nation, farmers and ranchers also face 

significant risks in the course of their everyday duties. They often transport 

and operate heavy and hazardous equipment and work in extreme weather 

conditions. Farmers may be exposed to pesticides, fertilizers, chemicals, 

and dust that can be harmful to human health. They also work in dangerous 

areas such as wells, silos, and grain elevators. These individuals must take 

great precautions to protect their health and safety, especially since rural 

residents may have to travel long distances to receive trauma care for an 

accident-related injury. They must also take particular care to avoid accidents 

involving children. 

As the fall harvest season approaches, I encourage farm and ranch families 

and workers to participate in farm safety and health programs. I also encourage them to follow optimal farm safety and health practices. Businesses 

and communities, and organizations and neighbors, can encourage one another to understand the risks of this work so that we can prevent accidents, 

prevent exposure to potential hazards, and save lives. 

Working long hours at physically demanding and often dangerous tasks, 

farmers and ranchers provide for our Nation and countless others across 

the world. Even as they have faced risks, they have made our agricultural 

sector more productive and practiced good stewardship of our country’s 

natural resources. This week, Americans express gratitude for the untold 

benefits we enjoy from their labor, and we honor their achievements by 

urging continued commitment to the highest standards of safety and health. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 20 through 

September 26, 2009, as National Farm Safety and Health Week. I call upon 

the people of the United States to join me in celebrating the vital contributions of farmers and ranchers to our Nation and in reflecting upon the 

importance of farm safety and health in communities across America. 


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49302 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 185 / Friday, September 25, 2009 / Presidential Documents 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first 

day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of 

the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 

thirty-fourth. 

[FR Doc. E9–23414 

Filed 9–24–09; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3195–W9–P 


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