Farming continues to be the most hazardous occupation in the United States, which typically sees about 23 deaths per 100,000 farm workers each year, and rates in a number of specific accident categories spike under the pressure of fall harvest.

This year’s planting delays create some special concerns for Dan Neenan with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS).

“We’re going to be tight on time, and when folks get into a hurry, that’s when they take shortcuts on safety,” Neenan says.

Preparing for harvest involves more than inspecting machinery, he notes. It’s also a good time to check fire extinguishers, first-aid kits,...