Grain storage bins have been in use since their invention by Illinois farmer Fred Hatch who is thought to have constructed the first modern one in 1873. According to Purdue University’s Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department who has been documenting and investigating grain bin incidents since the 1970’s, in 2022, there were 83 incidents reported across the Mid-West with 24 of those being fatalities. In January of 2022, a farmer in Casey County Kentucky became trapped in a soybean bin and was rescued by first responders using grain rescue tubes. Having the necessary extraction equipment on hand saved his life.

Over the past 15 years, Madison County farmers have increased acreage of corn and soybeans as an effort to diversify their agricultural income. Along with that, we have more feed and grain storage bins in use than any other time in the recent past.   To provide Madison County first responders with appropriate and specialized rescue equipment, Madison County Farm Bureau, Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Development Council partnered to purchase 9 grain rescue tubes to be placed with various fire departments around the county. Tubes were purchased with 50% County Ag Development funds and 50% Madison County Farm Bureau funds through a reduced cost program with Turtle Plastics in Lorain, Ohio. The total project cost was $8,878.24.

Instructed by Dale Dobson from the KY Department of Agriculture, and in coordination with Madison County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, Madison County Fairgrounds and Madison County first responders, a grain tube training workshop was held on November 14^th 2023. Firefighters from Berea, Richmond, Waco, Red Lick, Waco, White Hall, Kirksville, Union City and Madison County attended the day long program to learn about the causes of flowing grain entrapment and how to use the rescue tubes in an extraction situation. Approximately 45 first responders participated in the workshop and are now certified to use the equipment should the need arise. Each fire department now carries a rescue tube on a truck.