4-H Youth Development
Cornell University
340 Roberts Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-5905
t. 607 255-2237
f. 607 255-0788
www.cce.cornell.edu/4h
March 9, 2009
Dear 4-H Extension Educators and 4-H Tractor Safety Instructors,
Welcome and thank you for your interest in the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation
Program! Whether you attended a 4-H Tractor Safety Certification Update on the NSTMOP materials
or not, this note is an attempt to remind or introduce you to the new guidelines and resources, as well
as issues discussed at the training. More resources will be posted to the NYS 4-H Resource Directory
and the State 4-H Staff website as they are shared and become available.
How to obtain the NSTMOP Training Guidelines and Task Sheets on-line:
For more information about the Hazardous Occupations Safety Training in Agriculture (HOSTA)
National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP), check out the website at: The
NSTMOP training guidelines will guide an instructor in coordinating and teaching a Tractor and
Machinery Certification Course. The guidelines and the Task Sheets, as well as information about the
Hazardous Occupation law, can be found on the NSTMOP website at: http://www.nstmop.psu.edu/
There is also an online Instructor Training. To get registered and obtain the Instructor training
guidelines, you choose Access Instructor Materials and follow directions:
1. Sign up for a Friends of Penn State account at https://fps.psu.edu/, unless you already have a PSU
ID. (You only have to do this once).
2. Provide your Friends of Penn State userid to the NSTMOP Office by email or phone ( 814-8638124 or nstmop@psu.edu). (Again, you only have to do this once.)
3. Once you have your userid and digital identity, access the online NSTMOP Instructor Materials at
https://cms.psu.edu/. Login in at the Friends of Penn State page. You will find the materials listed
on the “My Profile” page.
Tractor and Machinery Safety Certification – obtaining Certificates of Training and special notes:
The 4-H Tractor and Machinery Certification Program in New York State is housed in the Cornell Cooperative
Extension State 4-H Office in Roberts Hall. Contact Adam Davis, State 4-H Program Specialist at
afd7@cornell.edu or call Adam at 607/255-0896 in the State 4-H Office for questions about Certificates of
Training and 4-H Tractor Certification program administration. For more detailed information including: the
2008 4-H Tractor Certification Guidelines, links to the new National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation
Program materials, CCE 4-H Tractor Certification Contacts in each Association, anticipated Tractor
Certification Courses, and Cornell Ag, Health and Safety resources on the web and more, see the State 4-H
website at: http://nys4h-staff.cce.cornell.edu/TractorSafety.php
Building Strong and Vibrant New York Communities
Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.
To obtain Certificates of Training: The procedure is similar to the past. Students who are 14 and above and
successfully complete the training program for either Tractor and/or Machinery Operation exemption are to be
provided with a Certificate of Training. Certificates of Training are available from Adam Davis. New this
year, the Extension Educator must submit the completed NSTMOP Master Score Sheet (NY version), which
includes a list of all students in the course, mailing addresses, dates of birth, scores on final exams and a note
about passing, not passing or under 14. Do not send the form to Penn State, as instructed in the guidelines on
the NSTMOP webpage. This Master Score Sheet can also be used for registration and tracking scores. The NY
version Master Score Sheet can be found on the State 4-H staff webpage at:
http://nys4h-staff.cce.cornell.edu/TractorSafety.php
Certification course hours and ages:
To certify youth for the Tractor and Machinery Operation program, they must have 24 hours of education
program – this time includes homework done at home and time spent on a farm and time taking exams. The
Tractor Only certification, which is a minimum of 14 hours, only certifies a student to drive a tractor without
implements. For the optimum safety awareness and practicality, plan to conduct the 24 hour course. Under no
circumstance should you indicate Tractor and Machinery Operation on the Certificate of Training if the full
educational program is under 24 hours.
For 2006 and beyond, a student must be 14 years old in order to drive during a certification course. Thirteen
year olds may participate in the class for safety awareness. They may only get certified if they turn 14 and pass
the driving exam within 60 days of taking the final written exam pending all other requirements are met.
Independent Study:
The NSTMOP materials, especially the Task Sheets, are conducive to work with independent students
although there is still a need for an instructor to monitor the student’s progress along the way and to ensure that
the 24 hours of educational programming is met for the Tractor and Machinery Operation Certification.
Certification versus Safety Program:
Note that while the 4-H Tractor and Machinery Certification program is a safety program, we should be clear
when we are offering a Certification program and we must adhere to the NSTMOP guidelines. Under no
circumstances are youth under the age of 14 allowed to drive tractors over 20 mph. Safety programs without
driving with developmentally appropriate lessons are encouraged to build the program and encourage safety
awareness.
Collaboration
We are grateful to collaborate with Ellen Abend, Extension Associate, who provides indispensable support to
the 4-H Tractor and Machinery Certification program including farm safety expertise, training, and links to
National resources. Contact Ellen at ela$@cornell.edu. If you need more information about requirements
and preparation for the 4-H Tractor and Machinery Certification Program or still have questions,
contact Ellen or myself.
Best wishes in your safety trainings!
Kimberly Fleming
Cornell Cooperative Extension State 4-H Youth Development Program Specialist