Safety first this harvest season

September 19, 2024 | Jeff Hutton

Harvest season is under way, and producers like Iowa Soybean Association District 7 Director Lee Brooke from Clarinda are taking to the fields to harvest their crops. All told, U.S. soybean farmers were expected to harvest an estimated 4.4 billion bushels across 85.3 million acres this fall based on late June numbers. The yield forecast was at 52 bushels per acre. In Iowa, the latest numbers this past summer were estimated at 9.82 million acres to be harvested.

And though weather conditions have been conducive to harvesting thus far this season, Brooke and other soybean producers know safety concerns are always lurking in the fields.

Prepared and alert

For Brooke, preparedness is part of his harvest routine.

“Before we start out, we’ll take care of the combines and tractors, have them inspected, and when we can, do some of the work ourselves in our shop,” he says. “Every year, we want to have our equipment in tip-top shape because it makes for a safer harvest.”

That includes replacing tires, ensuring the internal mechanics of combines and tractors are oiled and running smoothly, and anything that might help in preventing problems along the way.

“And we’re not doing things right before the harvest, but year ‘round,” Brooke says. “You shouldn’t wait until August and September to get everything done.”

Meanwhile, Brooke says he is always on the lookout for other drivers trekking along rural roadways, especially during the harvest.

“We live off a major county highway,” he says. “We are very concerned when we’re operating ‘wide,’ and we take up a lot of the road. We have cameras on the back of our combines and on the back of our grain carts. We’re especially alert as we turn into the fields.”

Since harvest can often run from sunup to sundown, Brooke says he and others in the field take breaks often, working hard to make sure there is more than one person engaged in the process should any problems arise.

Prior to going to a particular field, Brooke says everyone in the family is aware of who is where and what’s going on.

“We pretty much know where we’re at and know which farm we’re harvesting,” he says. “We try and leave another vehicle in the field if there is a breakdown and we need that vehicle to get home.”

Brooke says he has water fire extinguishers on the combines and regular fire extinguishers in all vehicles. The veteran farmer says he wants to be prepared, especially if conditions are windy, hot and dry, or if a bearing goes out and starts a fire.

“You have to check your equipment, grease the parts daily and look for those issues,” he says. “A loose piece of metal can start a fire quickly.”

Finally, Brooke says farmers need to keep their minds sharp and focused. Harvesting can include very long days and nights and being alert is paramount.

Awareness for everyone

Farm safety is not just an important issue for those in agriculture.

Marshall County Sheriff Joel Phillips and Chief Deputy Ben Veren, who both were farmers prior to beginning their law enforcement careers, say they are focused on safety during the harvest season.

They say all Iowans should be aware and take care in sharing the road with farm equipment for the next several weeks.

“Farm tractors, combines and implements are much larger and heavier than the average car or truck,” says Phillips. “Drivers should also be aware that trucks and farm tractor trailers will be turning in and out of farm field drives where drivers aren’t used to seeing turning traffic. Drivers should be patient and make sure it is safe before attempting to pass slow-moving equipment.”

Veren agrees and says farmers can also do their part to help improve the safety of their equipment on the roadway by ensuring that all warning lights, reflectors and slow-moving signs are in place, clearly visible and working properly. Keeping mirrors and windows clean to allow the operator to safely see other motorists on the roadways is also key.

“It’s also important to remember for operators of the slow-moving vehicles to use turn signals and visually check before making turns to ensure that nobody is passing,” he says. “Farmers should make sure to use amber warning flashers when driving slow-moving farm equipment on the roadways after dark.”

“While slow-moving farm equipment can be considered a nuisance to some motorists, remember that farmers are working hard to produce the food we all enjoy to eat. Everyone needs to do their part to be safe and get to their destination or farm without being involved in a crash,” Phillips says.

Dangerous profession

Dan Neenan, director of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), says Brooke’s plans of action before and during the harvest season are on point.

“Agriculture, unfortunately, is still the most dangerous industry in the United States,” Neenan says. “The harvest only adds another layer of concern – the days are shorter; it gets darker early and there are more slow-moving vehicles on the road.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021 (the most recent information available), the ag sector incurred 453 fatalities across the country.

NECAS, Neenan says, is focused on lowering those numbers, especially during National Farm Safety and Health Week which is this week.

Throughout this week, Neenan says there have been daily topics of focus for farmers and the general public to think about, including equipment and rural roadway safety, health and wellness, generations of farming, confined spaces and reporting ag injuries.

While safety efforts have improved over the years, Neenan says more must be done.

“We have to make safety top of mind,” he says, “especially during spring planting and the fall harvest when things are moving at a fevered pitch.”

Safety tips

Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety

Check farm machinery, making sure guarding is secure and reflective markings and signage, as well as lighting, is working properly.

Health and Wellness

Be aware of your physical and mental well-being. Ensure you’re eating properly and staying hydrated, especially considering your medical and prescriptive needs.  Brain health should also be observed. “We’re starting to see a number of layoffs in the ag industry, so we’re in a little bit of a downturn and cash can be short,” he says. “That can make things difficult when it’s time to bring the harvest in. It weighs on people’s minds, so make sure you have someone to talk to during this time.”

Generations of Farming

Fatalities and serious injuries on the farm impact every age demographic, but Neenan says many of these incidents involve children 18 and younger, and farmers 65 years old and above.

Confined Spaces

Know the dangers associated with grain bins, manure pits and other confined spaces. “There should always be at least two people there, specifically at least one person monitoring from outside (the bin or the pit),” he says. “And it’s not the evaluator’s job to rescue someone; instead they need to call 911 and get emergency personnel there.”

Reporting Ag Injuries

Neenan says when it comes to reporting these incidents, it’s important “that we use the correct terminology. Instead of accidents, it should be preventable incidents. The word ‘accident’ implies there’s nothing we could have done.”

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