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The Vermont ROPS Retrofit Program. Sponsors: Help Save Lives & Get Recognition!. ROPS = Roll-Over Protective Structure. Vermont Farmers Backbone of Vermont. Food on our table every day. An Open Landscape…. A Working Landscape. Do farmers have a sustainable future?.
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The VermontROPS Retrofit Program Sponsors: Help Save Lives & Get Recognition! ROPS = Roll-Over Protective Structure
Farmers face many challenges • Milk Prices • Feed Prices • Crop failure due to weather • Debt and credit problems • Safety • 8 times more likely to die on the job then the average worker • Rollovers = Approximately ½ of deaths
Why bother with ROPS? ONE in TEN tractor operators overturns a tractor in his or her lifetime
The leading cause of deathon the farm is due to tractor rollovers
Average Farmer is 55 Years Old 80 % of tractor overturns happen to highly experienced tractor drivers
The Northeast States have the highest rate of overturn fatalities & injuries
No Farmer, No Farm 7 of 10 farms are out of business within one year of a rollover fatality
A farming fatality costs the family and society approximately $910,000
Over half of rollover injuries result in: Hospitalization 70 lost working days
One in Seven farmers are permanently disabled in • tractor rollovers
An $800 investment in ROPS prevents: • Farm family tragedy • Injury & Disability • $910,000 cost to society ROPS are 99% effective!
New York saw a 10-fold increase in ROPS purchases • in just one year! • A Media Campaign to motivate farmers • A 70% rebate to farmers for cost of a ROPS • A Hotline to guide smooth ROPS purchases
Strategy for Vermont A Media Campaign targeting High Risk farmers A 70% Rebate to farmers A ROPS Hotline Raise $60,000 to provide rebates in 2011
Top three reasons farmers don’t install ROPS “It won’t happen to me” “Can’t afford it” “No time to order”
Timeline December 2009 - August 2010 Identify Barriers and Motivators to install ROPS Identify Key Media outlets Begin message testing in focus groups September 2010 - November 2010 Order advertising Launch campaign and monitor for outcomes
Our Vermont Partners • The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food • and Markets • The Vermont Farm Bureau • Vermont farm families • Co-Operative Insurance Companies
Recognition for our Key Partners • Your logo displayed in our “Media Blitz” • Newspapers, Magazines, Newsletters • Banners and Pamphlets at Farm Shows, • Conferences, Equipment Dealers, etc.
Recognition continued… • Radio, Earned Media, Across the Fence • Logo/Hotlinks on four websites • Featured in Farmsafe Facebook, Blog and in statewide list serves, etc. • Social Networking Presence
Partner with us and Help protect • Farmers • Farms • Costs to Society