(Spirit Lake)– Although planting is winding down now, this obviously remains a very busy time of the year for area farmers. And when it comes to that, farmers and motorists alike are being reminded to use some extra caution. Gary Wright, a Farm Management Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach says rollovers involving farm equipment are especially a concern…
“And again they occur a lot of times whether we’re talking about whether it’s the equipment, whether it’s the tractor, whether it’s the power equipment, the truck, whatever it is. A lot of times it’s a case where you end up with a lot more serious situation. So maybe if you could get slowing down a little bit, that’s not a bad thing, especially if you’re able to look twice at some of those simple driving kind of things.”
For motorists, Wright says it’s important to maintain plenty of distance when following a large piece of equipment…
“Both people that are trying to see them as well as they trying to see somebody else. And on the road, you know, farmers now are traveling up and down the road to get from field to field and that’s a situation where you’re just going to be in a position where you’re going to perhaps have a little more risk related to, you know, just the tractor thing.”
Wright also reminds farmers of the importance of the proper handling and precautions that are needed when dealing with chemicals.
