Harvest Safety

The 2022 growing season is nearing completion. For corn and soybean farmers, harvest will or has just begun. Our forage growers, of course, have been harvesting all season long. The Dairyland Seed Agronomy team thought it may be beneficial to offer up a few reminders for the harvest season. The most important item is: We want you home each and every evening safe with family and friends! Please take the next few minutes to pause and review these few pointers for a safe harvest. Most of us are familiar with these principles. We just need a nice stern reminder.

Before we hit the technical aspects, it seems to the author that the greatest cause of farm accidents is taking that brief pause and thinking the situation through. We are in a hurry, perhaps frustrated and tired, and just go without thinking of possible dangers that may exist.

One of the biggest concerns is others in the field. Always know who is in the field and where. Children are small, hard to see and move quickly. Having family with us in the field is one of the best aspects of agriculture. Exercise extra caution with our greatest crop while they are with us in the field. Communicate the possible dangers with our children. Communicate with each other on where children are at and who they are with.

Our more seasoned citizens enjoy watching the next generations bring in the harvest as well. They want to see what’s happening and still feel a part of the farming operation. As we all know with age, we aren’t as quick or nimble and there are plenty of fall and stumble opportunities. Keep an eye out for the adults as well.

The next area where we get into problems is machinery operation. Again, patience and thinking the situation through is crucial.

• Refer to the operator’s manual for proper safety procedures.
• Please use all provided safety features such as shields, locks braces etc.
• Always shut the machine off. One tug or slip and the machine may be engaged.
• Make sure all lights and SMV shields are in working order for travel.
• If possible, use an escort vehicle in front and back when moving equipment.

Other items of importance:

• Standard Operating Procedures should be in writing so all know how to operate certain machinery and equipment.
• Get enough rest and proper nutrition at this time as well. Fatigue is a major cause of accidents and a trip to the ER slows harvest way down.

Additional information may be referenced on the following websites:

https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/clarke-mcgrath/road-safety-tips-during-fall-harvest

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/fall_harvest_safety_tips

https://extension.sdstate.edu/safe-harvest

Have a joyous and SAFE harvest!

We want to see you safe healthy and happy at our next Dairyland Seed meeting, sales call or event!

Brian Weller Western Region 507.456.3034	Dan Ritter Central Region 219.863.0583	Branden Furseth Northern Region 608.513.4265	Mark Gibson Eastern Region 260.330.8968	Amanda Goffnett Eastern Region 989.400.3793

Enjoying our Agronomy Updates? Suggestions for topics you'd like us to weigh in on? Drop us an email at dairylandseed@dairylandseed.com. We'd love to hear from you!