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Hello, Everyone!  You may have noticed a few combines running this week as grain harvest gets started in earnest throughout the region.

As you can imagine, harvest is an incredibly stressful time of year for farmers. It doesn’t matter if it is silage, garlic, hay or grain, the pressure to harvest the crop in a timely manner coupled with the economic impacts can be overwhelming.

Traveling on roads with large, often oversized equipment adds to the stress. You have to worry about not hitting mailboxes and overhead power lines, and contending with traffic. Every farmer can share a negative experience they have had while driving on the road. No one wants this harvest to be their last, and a few recommendations are below if you find yourself behind farm machinery.

• First, be patient. Farm equipment is slow, but most often they are traveling short distances. If you find yourself behind a slow moving vehicle, slow down and don’t rush to pass. It is likely that they will be turning into a field shortly and you will not be delayed by much.
• Second, if you do decide to pass, be sure that it is safe to do so and that passing will not create an unsafe scenario for other drivers. Watch for oncoming traffic and make absolutely sure that the equipment will not be turning while you pass. If you notice a change in speed from the tractor/combine, assume that they will be making a turn. Newer farm equipment will have lots of flashing lights and more ways to communicate with motorists. Older equipment may not have turn signals or other ways to signal an upcoming turn. Looking ahead can provide clues to potential turns also. Not many combines will turn into a woodlot, but if you see a large field ahead it is likely they may turn in.

Farmers, it is also up to you to ensure that you are communicating with traffic as much as possible. Flashing lights make you visible, but they can be distracting if you are also trying to use a turn signal at the same time. Consider turning off the flashing lights momentarily so that motorists can pick up on the flashing turn signal. If your equipment is not equipped with turn signals, you should consider installing aftermarket lights. There was a viral photo circulating a few years ago of a combine operator that was thrown out of the cab during a collision. It may be second nature to wear a seatbelt in your car, but you should also get into the habit of wearing a seatbelt in your equipment, too.

Finally, with the dry weather this fall there is an increased risk of fire during harvest. Be sure to have fire extinguishers charged and on hand in case of a fire.

Harvest is stressful, and we all want you to be here for the next one, so be safe out there.

Submitted by Lee Beers, an Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator for OSU Extension – Trumbull County. He can be reached by email.

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