Last week, after looking at some dying soybeans in Jasper County, I was headed back to the office when I discovered the highway was blocked as two ambulance crews rescued the occupants of a small SUV that had just smashed into a tractor and auger. The front end of the SUV was smashed and the roof was collapsed. The auger was a twisted pile of scrap in the ditch and the tractor was headed home unscratched.

This tragic scene is all too common on rural highways. Many of these accidents happen after dusk, but this one happened in the middle of the day on a wide open highway. The fastest tractor or combine can only go about 20 mph. Reduce speed well in advance when approaching farm vehicles. Slow moving vehicles can seem to "jump" out in front of you when overtaken at high speed. If you are driving at 60 mph and come up behind one of these vehicles you are closing at almost 60 feet per second. Distracted driving is a recipe for disaster. Also, take extreme care when passing farm equipment, which is often wider than it first appears.

This year may call for some extra caution from farmers and motorists alike. The cool wet fall weather has caused significant harvest delays. When farmers are finally back in the field there will be significant pressure to rush and work long hours.

Farmers are most likely to be killed in October, an Iowa study of farm fatalities from 1990-1999 showed August, September and October as the most dangerous months to farm. The pressures of a busy harvest season may be a factor in this timing.

Many of these accidents occur on rural highways after dark. A seven-year study in Illinois showed an average of 240 farm equipment accidents per year on rural roadways, with 100 serious injuries and 6 deaths per year.

Augers are a rather unusual piece of farm equipment that is often involved in another type of farm related accident, electrocution. These long metal tubes on wheels are used to move grain from trucks or wagons into the grain bins. Before moving augers, always check for overhead power lines. While moving have a spotter that can provide an extra set of eyes and another angle for watching for hazards. These power lines are common around bin sites and the wires are often lower than they seem.

Another safety concern with grain augers is the exposed rotating parts. Limit your exposure by making sure all shields and covers are in place. Loose, floppy clothing, long shoestrings and drawstrings on hooded jackets will easily become entangled in rotating parts. Before you can react, entangled clothing can pull your body into the moving machinery and severe injury will result. Always stop the machine before making adjustments or clearing debris.

It is hard to finish harvest from the hospital, take the time to be safe. You will finish ahead in the long run.