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Watch for farmers
With harvest season in full swing, motorist should keep an eye out for slow-moving farm equipment on the roads
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MT. PLEASANT — Signs of harvest season are unmistakable to anyone traveling throughout Iowa at this time of year. The once vibrant green fields of crop now have now turned golden. With this change, commuters must be prepared to share the roadway with slow moving farm equipment as farmers continue their hard work harvesting.
“I want to remind everybody that it is harvest season, so be looking out for the tractors and grain trucks and everything else out on the roads,” Henry County Emergency Management Coordinator Walt Jackson said. “Be looking out for the tractors and green trucks and everything else out on the roads give them extra room when you're out and about.”
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office encourages the same sentiment as they partner with Henry County Farm Bureau to place signs throughout Henry County which read, “See a tractor? Slow down.”
“Tractors and combines travel at slower speeds so please be patient and give them plenty of space,” Henry County Sheriff’s Office encourages. “We want this to be a both plentiful and safe harvest season.”
While Gov. Kim Reynolds Harvest Proclamation issued Sept. 9 allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer, and manure to be overweight without a permit until Oct. 9, that does not mean the need to watch for farm vehicles dissipates at the same time.
According to the Iowa State Extension Office, many collisions with farm vehicles happen during fall harvest, and nearly twice as many collisions happen in October versus any other month.
“If you’ve driven on Iowa’s rural roads, you know how your spine tingles when you pop over a hill and come upon a slow-moving tractor,” A brochure from Iowa State Extension Office states. “A split-second reaction can save you from a collision.”
This brochure encourages drivers to drive defensively during this harvest season using some of the following tips:
Don’t assume a farm vehicle that pulls to the side of the road is going to turn right or let you pass. Take extra care to look for hand signals from the operator before proceeding.
Don’t confuse flashing hazard lights for turn signals. When the lights are flashing, or a turn signal is displayed, slow down.
Keep an eye on the sides of the road for possible turning opportunities for the farm equipment traveling on the same roadway. These could look like gates, driveways, or any other place a farm vehicle could turn. With field work, they may not always pull onto an obvious road.
Be patient. Those operating farm equipment might not always be able to move aside to let you pass due to soft, wet, or steep shoulders.
Double check that you are clear before passing farm vehicles, and make sure the vehicle is visible in the rearview mirror before returning to your lane.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
