09/14/2024
Hey everyone! Harvest has begun and it’s looking like it’s going to be fast and extremely dusty. Here is a list to keep in mind during this harvest season.
1)Please remember to drive carefully and be patient when you get to a parade of farm equipment. They can only go so fast safely down the road, have more blind spots than you can imagine, and need as much of the road as they can get (when they get on the berm they are unstable and sometimes uncontrollable). If you get impatient remember this is the majority of their income stream and what they do puts food on your table, fuel in your car, and is an export economy for our country.
2)Thanks to the drought, Farmers are moving extra equipment this year to be ready to fight any field fires that might happen. When we switch fields we will be moving: combine, headers, grain cart, semi, bin auger, manure tanker, plow, and possibly pressure washer trailer. Not to mention that truck/car/van to take all the drivers back for a second trip.
3)It’s going to be DUSTY this year. I highly recommend keeping your windows closed to keep the dust to a minimum. Also not much point in washing cars until it’s done. And stock up on allergy meds if dust is a problem for you.
4) flies and stinkbugs live in the fields and when we harvest they seek shelter inside our homes. Another excellent reason to keep windows closed.
5) And this is probably the most important. It’s ok if you see dust. If you SEE SMOKE- GO INVESTIGATE ! See if the farmer has it under control, if they need help, if something is out of control and needs emergency assistance, call 911. Check if a field that has no equipment in it has caught a spark and created a fire call 911 and if you know the farmer call them. This is not only a huge help to the farmers it shows your support of what they do.
