With harvest being in full swing throughout the state, one of the keys to a successful harvest season is safety. Chris Turner with Bayer explained how it may be easy to cut corners during busy times, but those are the most important times to do things the correct way. One of the biggest safety hazards on the farm can be driving equipment on the road from one field to another.
“I think sometimes farmers just can take things for granted, they’re around equipment every single day. So, slowing down, making sure everybody knows the best way, the safest way to be doing things. And to those that are not necessarily tied to the farm, a lot of times you have to navigate country roads with a combine going down the road or a tractor, your patience as well as the farmers, if we all work together, it’ll be a safe experience,” Turner said.
He explains that while moving from one field to the next, keep in mind that you need to take it easy. That rule goes for both farmers and those driving cars down the road in rural areas. “The biggest thing is just to slow down and take it easy, even though everybody wants to get done and through the harvest as fast as they can beat mother nature, it is a busy time of the year and we make sure there’s a tomorrow to harvest the crop,” he said.
One last tip is to simply let people know where you are and what your plan for the day is while at the farm because you never know what may happen. “Just make sure that friends and family know where you’re at at all times. A lot of times we get into rural communities, I can relate to this on our own farm, cell phone coverage isn’t always the best. And so, making sure everyone knows where you’re at, at any given time, so they can check up on you if need be,” Turner said.
If everyone works together, this can be a safe season.
