A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by U.S. Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina has introduced new legislation aimed at tackling one of the deadliest hazards in American agriculture: tractor rollovers.
The Roll-Over Prevention and Safety (ROPS) Act would expand and strengthen the National ROPS Rebate Program by creating a cost-share grant program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under the proposal, eligible farmers and schools could receive grants covering up to 70 percent of the cost of purchasing, transporting, and installing approved rollover protection structures, with farmers’ out-of-pocket expenses capped at $500.
The bill would also direct USDA to create a dedicated website and hotline to help farmers navigate the application and installation process.
“Farmers perform some of the most demanding and dangerous work and unquestionably deserve protection,” Davis said in a statement. “The Roll-Over Prevention and Safety Act allows them to upgrade their tractors, ensuring safety and saving lives.”
Tractor rollovers remain the leading cause of on-farm deaths nationwide, particularly among operators using older equipment that was not originally equipped with rollover protection. Advocates say ROPS — which include roll bars and protective frames — are among the most effective tools for preventing fatal injuries.
The legislation was introduced in the House by Davis alongside Reps. Randy Feenstra of Iowa, Josh Riley of New York, and Brad Finstad of Minnesota, and in the Senate by Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Jim Justice of West Virginia, and Raphael Warnock of Georgia.
“Iowa farmers feed and fuel our country and the world, working long hours, making unseen sacrifices, and risking their safety,” said Feenstra. “These tragic deaths are preventable with the right safety precautions, and this legislation will help farmers retrofit their tractors to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”
Riley echoed that sentiment, emphasizing both safety and fairness. “ROPS save lives. It’s that simple,” he said. “If a farmer is willing to do dangerous work to feed this country, then the least Washington can do is make sure they get home safe at the end of the day.”
In the Senate, Hyde-Smith called the program a “small, but important” step that could have an outsized impact in rural America, where emergency response times can be long. “Making retrofitting tractors affordable is worthwhile and I hope this lifesaving legislation finds broad support in the Senate and House,” she said.
Sen. Jim Justice, himself a farmer, framed the bill as a practical solution grounded in firsthand experience. “This bill is one simple way we can help decrease the risk of fatal tractor rollovers on farms,” he said, adding that he hopes the grant program will encourage more farmers to consider retrofitting older equipment.
Warnock highlighted the economic pressures farmers face when upgrading equipment. “This legislation will help prevent overturn accidents and give farmers peace of mind, allowing them to upgrade their equipment without having to make difficult financial decisions to do so,” he said. “Supporting our nation’s farmers shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”
The ROPS Act has drawn strong backing from across the agricultural industry. Kip Eideberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, called the bill a “commonsense, bipartisan solution.”
“Farmers who rely on older equipment should not have to choose between keeping their family safe and keeping their operations running,” Eideberg said. “This legislation will save lives, strengthen rural communities, and ensure that every farmer has access to the safety technology they deserve.”
Farm groups also praised the proposal. Tom Adam, president of the Iowa Soybean Association, said the cost-share approach could make a real difference. “By establishing this initiative through the USDA, we take a step toward reducing rollover incidents and ensuring that farmers have the essential equipment and resources to return home safely each day,” he said.
American Soybean Association President Scott Metzger, an Ohio farmer, noted that tractor rollovers remain among the leading causes of on-farm fatalities. “The ROPS Act offers an effective, cost-share solution to help farmers retrofit their equipment and enhance operator safety,” he said.
Support also came from commodity groups including the National Cotton Council and the National Association of Wheat Growers. “Expanding access to proven rollover protection structures is a practical step that will help keep our farmers safe,” the National Cotton Council said in a statement.
Financial and policy organizations weighed in as well. Brian Cavey, senior vice president of government affairs and knowledge exchange at CoBank, said the legislation balances industry support with human impact. “This equipment has already proven to save the lives of many, and supporting a national effort will only help to protect all farmers across the country,” he said.
Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, emphasized the broader goal of farmer wellbeing. “Supporting farmers and farmworkers’ health and wellbeing must remain a top priority,” he said.
Julie Sorensen, chair of the National ROPS Rebate Program, called the bill a milestone after years of hearing about preventable tragedies. “These events could have been easily avoided with the installation of something as simple as a rollbar,” she said. “It is wonderful to see legislation that has the potential to eliminate one of the most frequent causes of death on farms by providing support versus issuing penalties.”
The ROPS Act is endorsed by a broad coalition of agricultural and rural stakeholders, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, National Corn Growers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, and many others. Supporters say the breadth of backing reflects a shared understanding that farm safety is not a partisan issue, but a matter of saving lives in rural America.