A new study from Purdue University confirms that grain entrapment cases and deaths were up in 2019. The study found 38 documented grain entrapments across the U.S., 23 of those proving fatal. Purdue ag professor Bill Field says part of the problem was immature crop being put into storage.

However, Field also suggests that efforts to prevent deaths by entrapment haven’t been focused effectively.

Purdue University ag professor Bill Field adds that roughly two out of every three times a fire department is called to respond to a grain bin entrapment, the person entrapped is already dead. He suggests more time and money be spent educating farmers on safer procedures around grain bins, including never working alone and better ways to remove grain that’s out of condition.