Harvest season always brings its fair share of dangers, but this year will see a few new ones because of the current drought conditions.

ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson tells Raccoon Valley Radio the dry conditions present a higher risk for fires in the field and within the equipment. Anderson recommends always having a working fire extinguisher with you when out in the fields. With the excess of downed corn stalks from the recent derecho storm, Anderson adds there’s a higher risk for equipment plugs, “When we are harvesting, harvest is going to be slow, it’s going to be absolutely exhausting and we’re probably going to have equipment plugs. Farmers need to make sure that they are turning the equipment off if they’re going to have to go down and actually physically pull anything out, or do anything with the equipment. One of the best things that somebody can do is if you’re going to be the person working on the equipment, or trying to unclog it, that you are going to be the one with the key to that equipment. Just so that there isn’t a scenario where somebody accidentally jumps into a combine and starts it up without knowing that there’s already somebody else in a hazardous position.” 

Anderson adds that harvest season also means farm vehicles are likely to be out on the roads. She recommends keeping an extra eye out for the machinery as they can pose a danger if you’re not paying attention while driving.