Missouri Soybeans welcomed farmers, first responders and industry leaders to the Farm for Soy Innovation on June 4 for the Grain Smart Field Day, an event focused on grain bin safety and efficiency.
Sponsored by Ag Growth International (AGI), the field day featured hands-on demonstrations of grain handling solutions and safety equipment. The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) and Nationwide led a grain entrapment rescue simulation using a mobile grain bin simulator.
A highlight of the event was a fire suppression demonstration using SoyFoam, a soy-based, PFAS-free firefighting foam developed by Cross Plains Solutions. Gale Blomenkamp of the Boone County Fire Protection District emphasized the benefits of this biodegradable alternative for firefighter safety and environmental protection.
Missouri Soybeans also sponsored grain bin rescue tubes for fire departments in East Prairie and Martinsburg, joining over 390 departments nationwide that have received similar equipment through Nationwide's Grain Bin Safety campaign since 2014.
Brad Liggett, president of agribusiness at Nationwide, stressed the critical nature of grain bin safety, noting that at least 13 lives have been saved using grain rescue tubes and related training since the campaign's launch.
Kyle Durham, a Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council board member, emphasized the importance of consistent safety practices when working with grain bins.
Missouri Soybeans plans to continue investing in grain bin rescue equipment and supporting on-farm safety initiatives through checkoff-funded programs.
