Farm Safe 811
Here’s what the Peterson Farm Brothers want you to know about 811
- Pipeline makers identify the approximate— not the exact —location of a pipeline, they should never be used to identify the location of pipelines and underground utilities when farming nearby.
- Pipelines do not run a straight line between makers, and depth can vary based on soil conditions, previous farming activity, erosion and other factors.
- Dial 811 or visit clickbeforeyoudig.comat least three daysbefore conducting farming activities such as tilling, tiling, ripping and fencing.
- 811 is a free service to protect people, property and the environment.
“Ya dig?” 811 Video
The rest of the story…
If anyone doubted that agriculture would be embraced by the next generation of America’s farmers Greg, Nathan and Kendall Peterson have proved them wrong.
The brothers from Kansas—all of them Millennials—have spent the last several years taking the Internet by storm with their viral YouTube parodies, videos and documentaries promoting the farming industry in a way that resonates — not just with their generation — but across generations.
A serious accident has led the brothers to use their platform to share messages they believe will truly make a difference for their industry — farm safety. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, farming is one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in America.
“We had a friend who hit an overhead electric line while working on his farm, and he almost lost his life,” Greg explains. “As we’ve grown up, we’ve become more involved in the dangerous aspects of farming, so it was a real wake-up call for us.”
The Peterson brothers’ interest in promoting safety around utility lines grew from there. They soon partnered with Pipeline Operators for Ag Safety (POAS), a group of underground pipeline and utility companies to promote safety near buried utilities like pipelines.
“Promoting farm safety was kind of a natural extension of the work we were already doing,” Greg says.
Since then, the trio has continued to encourage the practice of “811 before you dig,” which allows farmers, ranchers and others to have underground pipelines and utilities marked and located for free by calling 811 or visiting clickbeforeyoudig.com at least three days before work begins.
811 is a reoccurring theme in their Facebook posts, at their farm tour and even in an original song, all with the goal of promoting agricultural safety.
“Farming doesn’t have to be one of the most dangerous jobs in America,” Greg says. “We want others to know the steps they can take to work a little safer, so they can preserve this livelihood for the next generation.”
