Grain bin safety is receiving a major boost in Michigan thanks to the Grain Bin Safety Awareness and Rescue Program (GBSAR), an innovative partnership grant program between the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture and ITC.
Underwritten by ITC, more than $80,000 in grant funding will be used by county 10 county Farm Bureaus across the state to purchase grain bin rescue equipment and/or hold training events with first responders.
County Farm Bureaus selected to receive up to $10,000 in grant funds based on their applications include Allegan, Gratiot, Lapeer, Livingston, Mason, Monroe, Newaygo, Sanilac, St. Joseph, and Tuscola.
GBSAR provides funding for county Farm Bureaus to conduct local trainings with fire and rescue personnel and Farm Bureau members surrounding grain bin safety, entrapment prevention strategies and effective rescue methods.
Training is provided by professionally accredited Safety and Technical Rescue Association experts with extensive real-life experience to provide hands-on demonstrations and training of how to properly use rescue tubes to safely extract a victim in the event of a grain bin entrapment. Participating county Farm Bureaus are also eligible to utilize grant funds to purchase up to two grain bin rescue tubes to be shared and used by local fire, emergency and law enforcement officials.
“Partnerships like this with ITC and our County Farm Bureaus are just one of the many ways the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture is working to positively contribute to the future of Michigan agriculture,” Kristine Kuhnert, executive director of the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture.
“The equipment and training that are provided through our program will help farmers and first responders be more prepared to handle grain bin entrapments — which have unfortunately been on the rise in recent years.”
There were 22 deaths related to grain bin entrapments in 2024, including one in Michigan, according to a report from Purdue University. An Isabella County farmer was successfully rescued in 2024 thanks to proper training and a grain bin rescue tube purchased by the Isabella County Farm Bureau.
“ITC remains committed to supporting farmers and first responders across Michigan through the ITC Grain Bin Safety Grants program,” said Gary R. Kirsh, ITC area manager.
“Many worthy counties submitted applications, and ITC was honored to work with the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture to review and award the 2026 grant recipients.”
The Michigan Foundation for Agriculture plans to open another Grain Bin Safety Awareness and Rescue Program grant cycle in 2027. Farmers interested in learning more about their County’s GBSAR grants are encouraged to contact their County Farm Bureau.