DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on Friday encouraged farmers and those living in and traveling through rural Iowa to stay safe this harvest season. Northey issued the reminder as part of National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 21-27.
“Iowa looks to have very large crop this year, which means long days and more trips on the road. It is important everyone in rural Iowa keep safety in mind throughout the harvest season,” Northey said. “Harvest is a great time on the farm, but it is also very busy and can be stressful. It is important everyone working on the farm and Iowans traveling through the rural parts of our state stay alert and take the necessary time to make sure we have a successful and safe harvest season.”
Tips for farmers include using the slow moving vehicle emblem on all appropriate tractors and equipment and making sure they are in good shape and visible. Also, be aware of and avoid flowing grain suffocation hazards while unloading bins and wagons. Retrofitting older tractors with a rollover protective structure is another important safety measure.
Harvest season is also a time when those traveling through rural Iowa need to be alert to potentially slow moving equipment and should be prepared to take a little more time if necessary.
The Iowa Department of Transportation has a video entitled “Rural Roadway Crashes – They’re Preventable” that has more information on how to safely travel Iowa’s rural roads. To see the video, click here: Rural Road Crashes
More farm safety information is available from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (click here) or from the Iowa Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (click here).
