Rain has kept many Iowa combines parked as farmers wait for fields to dry, and with October approaching, the desire to finally get harvest underway continues to build.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said that anticipation is evident as he travels across the state. While some chopping, high-moisture corn harvest and seed harvest have taken place, widespread harvest activity still needs drier conditions.
That impatience also makes the timing of National Farm Safety and Health Week particularly important. Once conditions improve, farmers could quickly transition from waiting on the weather to long days trying to make up for lost time.
Naig said farm accidents remain a reminder that even years of experience around machinery cannot eliminate the risks. Time pressure, changing conditions and a momentary lapse can turn a familiar job into a dangerous situation.
Naig said familiarity should never become an excuse for complacency. Whether someone has performed a job once or thousands of times, farmers still need to stay focused and keep safety equipment and procedures in place.
The safety message extends beyond the farm as harvest equipment begins moving onto Iowa roads. Naig asked motorists to give tractors, combines and other large machinery additional room and not assume equipment operators can see approaching vehicles.
After weeks of watching the crop mature and now waiting for wet fields to dry, farmers are understandably ready to get harvest moving. But as activity ramps up, Naig is urging farmers and motorists alike not to let that impatience override safety. A few extra moments of caution can help make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the day.
