Don't Tip! Minnesota ROPS Rebate Program Looks to Reduce Tractor Rollover Deaths and Injuries

In Minnesota, tractor overturn is the leading cause of injury or death for farmers, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

So this week, the Minnesota Lt. Governor and MDA Commissioner were highlighting a program passed by the legislature this session during Farm Safety and Health week (Sept. 18-24) that seeks to prevent rollovers: the Rollover Protection Structures Rebate (ROPS) program.

The ROPS program is primarily for pre-1987 tractors; post-1987 tractors have ROPs. Minnesota began offering the ROPS in July. The state agreed to contribute $250,000 to the program and another $42,500 was contributed from private partners: CHS, Cargill, Land O’Lakes, ADM, Ag Country, United FCS, Agribank and AgStar, according to Andrea Vaubel, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

The program will cover at least 70 percent of the cost to purchase, ship and install rollover protection structures on tractors.
“We can go over 70 percent in an effort to limit out-of-pocket costs to $500,” Vaubel said.

To bring this farm safety program to life, MDA worked with the original bill’s sponsors, Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) and Sen. Dan Sparks (DFL-Austin), according to Vaubel.

The program is administered through the New York Center for Agriculture Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) organization. NYCAMH provides cost estimates and helps locate rollover kits that will work with each farmer’s tractor.

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