This week is Farm Safety Week, a time when farmers and the ag industry take a step back to focus on staying safe during one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year. With harvest beginning in earnest very soon across Iowa, the reminders are timely because while strong yields matter, nothing is more important than making it home safe at the end of the day.
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says this week is a reminder of two big storylines in agriculture right now: how the state’s crops are shaping up as harvest gets underway in parts of the state, and how important it is to keep safety in focus during long and stressful days in the field. Naig says the weeks ahead will bring answers on yields and plenty of challenges for farmers, both in the field and on the road.
Naig adds that while it is still early, the crop has strong potential, even with some disease pressure, trimming yields in spots. He says the real test over the next couple of weeks will be seeing just how large this year’s harvest turns out to be, and at the same time, reminding farmers that safety and health need to stay at the top of the list as the pace of work picks up.
As combines roll into fields across Iowa, farmers will be keeping a close eye on yield reports to see how the crop finishes out. But Naig says Farm Safety Week is a reminder that no matter how big the harvest turns out to be, the most important outcome is making sure everyone gets home safe each night. Balancing the drive for strong production with the need for caution on the farm and on the road is what will carry agriculture through the season.
