Harvest season underway: Drivers urged to use caution around farm equipment

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Harvest season is underway, and drivers can expect to see more farm equipment on rural roads.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 163 traffic crashes involving farm equipment were reported in Missouri last year, resulting in one death and 37 injuries.

Sgt. Shane Hux said one of the biggest concerns during harvest season is traffic on two-lane highways.

"The farm machinery is so big and slow-moving, so it’s very important that the motoring public exercise patience because they are going to be coming out of field entrances, off some rural gravel roads where you normally don’t see a lot of traffic," he said.

Hux said farmers should have someone with them, if possible, to help alert drivers of farm equipment on two-lane highways.

"Someone in a vehicle in front of them or even behind them. Just to alert oncoming traffic. Take off your corn head or bean head when you're moving your equipment on the highways," he said.

The most common mistakes drivers make is passing farm equipment in an unsafe location.

"It’s never a good idea to pass near a bridge or around a curve. Probably the biggest thing is that when a farmer is going to make a left turn, they will pull over to the far right side of the roadway before they initiate that turn," he said. "Just because their equipment is so big and it takes a wide turn to do that, and sometimes the motorist thinks that the farmer is pulling over to let them pass."

St. Joseph farmer Tim Gach said he has run into problems on the road during harvest season, particularly when crossing a bridge to get to the farm.

"Rather than people stopping and waiting, they will try to cross that bridge even though we are literally right in the middle of the roadway because the bridge is rather narrow," he said. "That’s kind of concerning, and it’s a little frustrating sometimes."

Dust and dirt can build up on farm equipment and cover the slow-moving vehicle sign, making it hard for drivers to see.

"Take a minute or two if you're a farmer and make sure those are cleaned off," he said. "If you have flashers and beacons, make sure you use those. We try to do that with all our equipment, on the ones that work."

Gach said farmers should also stay aware of the traffic around them.

"Looking in the mirror to see who’s behind you if you can see them. Looking ahead to see when we have a bridge coming up, and it's narrow, is there traffic coming," he said. "Maybe we pull over to the side and wait for that traffic to come across before we pass."

Gach said farmers are never trying to hold up traffic while going slow on the highway.

"Most of them, as a matter of fact, are in a rush trying to get things done because of the harvest season is a rather short one for some," he said.

The most important thing for drivers to remember is to be patient during this harvest season.

"Expect delays; there are going to be slower-moving vehicles out there. Do not try to press your luck and get around them in a place that’s not safe to do so," he said.

In Missouri, harvest season ends around late November to December.