Episode Summary

In this episode, FarmSafe sits down with Andrea Swenson, director of the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, to discuss the newly updated 2025 National Action Plan for Childhood Agricultural Safety. Drawing on her upbringing on a Wisconsin dairy farm and years of professional experience, Swenson explains why agriculture can be both an incredible developmental opportunity for youth and one of the most hazardous environments they may encounter. The conversation explores why the national plan was updated for the first time since 2012, reflecting major shifts in agriculture such as automation, artificial intelligence, climate-related extreme weather, labor shortages, and changing farm structures. Swenson outlines the plan’s seven priority areas: leadership, injury and exposure data, public policy, organizational policy, research, dissemination and implementation, and preparedness for emerging threats.

Episode Resources

2025 National Action Plan

Templates for model Farm Safety Policies can be found at

• https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/articles/a-culture-of-farm-safety-starts-with-a-well-written-policy/
• https://agriculturaljusticeproject.org/toolkit/resources/safety/ajp-safety-plan/