Happy and Safe Harvest
Fall harvest is a busy time of the year for our local farmers and certainly a dangerous time as well. This means long hours in the field, usually from sunup to sundown, pulling in and out of the field throughout the day heading to the elevator or back to farm headquarters to unload or move to the next field of unharvested crops. Unfortunately, the deeper you get into harvest, the more daily pressures mount from managing time, breakdowns coupled with the race against the weather increases the odds of farm accidents. So, we need to help decrease those odds by being more aware of our surroundings and paying greater attention when traveling rural roads or highways. Please keep these things in mind for this fall harvest.
- Large farm equipment travels at slower speeds so give yourself time to react when you meet them on the road.
- Do not pass when it is unsafe to do so. (Have patience)
- If the equipment or semi you are following slows down, it generally means they are turning, and they will make wide turns.
- Be courteous and don’t tailgate- give them plenty of space.
- Don’t use your cell phone.
The person in the tractor, combine, or semi, is someone’s grandparents, parents, or sibling so we need to do our best to prevent any possible accidents. A fatal accident will be life-changing for all those involved.
I will always remember what an older gentleman said to me one day as I rushed around to get on the road because I had to be somewhere at a certain time but was running late.
“Young man,” he said, “If you needed to be there sooner, you should have left earlier”
So please be safe, courteous, alert and leave earlier this harvest.
-Sonny Manley, President- Hebron-