Farm Safety… a Legacy to be Proud of

By Emily Hanlin
Ag Communications
Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau

Howard Graham Buffet, son of Warren Buffet the world-famous investing icon, is a renowned entrepreneur, political figure, patron, photographer, conservationist, and agriculturalist. He once said, “Each of us has about 40 chances to accomplish our goals in life. I learned this first through agriculture, because all farmers can expect to have about 40 growing seasons, giving them just 40 chances to improve on every harvest.”

For most of us farmers, our harvest season is now in full swing. In fact, as I make my way toward DeKalb every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to get to Northern Illinois University, I make sure that I am extra careful coming over hills and going around turns because I know that farmers are hard at work. It is that time of year when harvest is in full swing and farmers are moving equipment from field to field. It is very important to slow down, take your time, and be patient.

Farm equipment is wide and moves very slowly, usually no more than 25 mph. Many rural roads are narrow and have several blind spots that make it difficult for motorists as well as farmers to see each other.

The week of September 18-24 was celebrated throughout the agriculture community as the National Farm Safety & Health Week. This year’s theme was “Farm Safety… a Legacy to be Proud of.”

According to Peggy Romba, Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Program Manager, “The theme serves as a reminder that it’s up to us to teach our children and grandchildren to use good safety sense on the farm. This is one of the most important things we can do for them. From generation to generation, farmers learn from those who have gone before them.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation reminds farmers that all vehicles using public roads exclusively for agricultural purposes are required to use a new Slow Moving Vehicle emblem that is brighter and longer lasting than previous ones. These triangular SMV emblems serve as a caution to motorists that the vehicle they are overtaking will likely be moving at a rate of speed, much slower than their own.

According to COUNTRY Financial® group, 53 people were killed in collisions involving farm equipment between 2005 and 2015. This represents 21% of all farm-related deaths in that time period in Illinois.

“In 2015, we had the lowest number of farm deaths in Illinois than we have had for some time, with 11,” said Dr. Robert Aherin, Professor, Ag Safety & Health Program Leader at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Our average for the past 20 years has been about 31 deaths per year.”

He also pointed out that there were no farm-related grain bin deaths.

“Farmers don’t want to slow down traffic any more than motorists want to be stuck behind them,” Illinois Agriculture Director from 2003-2008 Chuck Hartke said. “But, it’s absolutely essential that farm and non-farm vehicles share the roadway. Agriculture is vital to our economy, and farmers have a limited time in which to harvest their crops.”

So next time you approach a slow moving combine or tractor on a rural road way please slow down, have patience, and pass with the highest level of caution. Farm safety is a critical aspect when it comes to making sure our farmers leave a strong legacy. We need our farmers to make harvest the best it can be. We need to make sure we play a safe part in allowing them those 40 chances, if that’s what it takes.

Be aware of agricultural equipment on the road during this harvest season.