Lesson 1: The Agricultural Industry
Learning Outcome
For fire and EMS personnel, who often come from backgrounds outside of agriculture, gaining insight into the unique world of farming and ranching is not just beneficial—It’s crucial for effective emergency response. The agricultural landscape presents a distinct set of hazards, equipment, and ways of working that are very different from urban and suburban environments. Understanding these nuances can mean the difference between a successful rescue and a tragic outcome.
After completing Lesson 1, you will be able to do the following:
- Describe the size, scope, and economic significance of the agricultural industry in the United States and Canada.
- List three challenges facing agricultural operations today.
- Explain how agricultural operations are similar and different from industrial job sites.
Slide Presentation: Select the arrow button below to view each slide. This presentation is intended to help you better understand the size, scope, and significance of the agricultural industry in the United States and Canada. Which statistics surprised you?
Matching Card Game (Go Fish) Activity: There are 12 cards laid out face down. Hidden beneath these cards are 6 pairs of matching images and statistics. Select any two cards to flip them over and see what is underneath. Take a good look at the image and the statistic on each card. Try to remember where each card is located. This will help you find its match later. If the two cards you flipped over have the same image and statistic, you’ve found a match! These two cards will stay face up. If the cards don’t match, they will automatically flip back down after a short time. Continue flipping over two cards at a time, trying to find all 6 matching pairs. Once you’ve successfully matched all 12 cards, you win the game! Try it again by pressing reset to improve your time.
Why this matters: This game helps you review essential agricultural statistics in a fun and interactive way. These facts are important to know before arriving at the scene of an agricultural emergency—so sharpen your memory and get ready!
Ungraded Knowledge Check: Select the correct answer in the multiple choice question below.
Slide Presentation: Select the arrow button below to view each slide. This presentation focuses on the economic challenges farmers and ranchers face today. What are some of their economic pressures?
Drag the Words Activity: Drag the words into the correct boxes.
Slide Presentation: Select the arrow button below to view each slide. This presentation focuses on production challenges farmers and ranchers face today. What are some of their production challenges?
We don’t expect you to memorize all these statistics. Our goal is for you to understand that responding to incidents on farms/ranches involves unique challenges compared to typical car crashes or building fires. You might encounter children or workers who primarily speak languages other than English.
Farms/ranches are not typical workplaces. They are often both a business and a home, with pressures related to weather, market fluctuations, and the constant need to care for livestock or crops. Recognizing these operational demands and the stress they create can significantly impact how you approach a scene and interact with those involved.
Now, let’s learn about agricultural incidents.