More than one-hundred Illinois farm families will be treated to a free lunch – and most importantly a quick break from harvest work – during National Farm Safety & Health Week. Farm Credit Services of Illinois is sponsoring its annual “Meals In The Fields” program Sept. 22-26 to help promote farm safety. Each of Farm Credit’s 21 branch offices will select a different farm family every day of the week to provide a lunch meal. The Farm Credit staff serves the lunch wherever the farmers happen to be working that day – whether that be in the fields, in the machine shed, or around the kitchen table.

All Illinois farmers that reside in the southern 60 counties are eligible for “Meals In The Fields” by registering with a Farm Credit Services of Illinois office or by emailing their name and contact information to info@fcsillinois.com.

Agriculture continues to rank as one the most dangerous occupations and industries in North America and across the globe. Last year, there were 715 deaths and 80,000 disabling injuries attributed to agriculture. Especially during the long harvest work days, farmers are reminded to take breaks and drink plenty of water to help them stay alert while operating machinery. This year’s National Farm Safety & Health week marks the 65th consecutive signing of a farm safety proclamation by a U.S. President, beginning with FDR in 1944.