Ag Minute: Start Seeing Tractors
- Sangamon County News
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
April is finally here after a long winter of cold, wind, and snow. Moisture penetrated the soil and allowed for the freeze-thaw cycle to break up compaction in the fertile Illinois soils, and the frost has now left the ground. Farmers are looking for soil temperatures to reach 50 degrees at the 4 inch level and once that is achieved, corn and soybean seeds will be planted until it is too wet to get into the fields again. Field conditions have to be right; however, when they are, it is common for farmers to work 12-18 hours a day until everything has been done for the spring planting. The intermittent spring rains bring inconsistent field conditions so farmers must be able to plant as fast as possible when the weather allows them to do so. Recent years illustrate the importance of this technique, as spring 2024 resulted in a largely split planting across the region. Conditions were highly favorable in mid-April with rain entering late in the month, and planting was unable to progress until the week of May 13th.
Motorists can become irritated when they come upon slow moving vehicles such as tractors going down the road. The need to accommodate tractors can significantly slow down drive time to certain places and cause traffic backlogs on roads that are already busy. Craig Morgan eludes to this in his song “International Harvester,” mentioning “3 miles of cars laying on their horns,” and highlighting the tension between motorists trying to get places and farmers trying to get field work done. The AGDAILY staff wrote an article in 2018 explaining that around 15,000 tractor and vehicle accidents occur on the road system every year, with some of these resulting in fatalities. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, rural road deaths account for 43% of traffic related fatalities, whereas only 20% of the population lives in these regions. An article by Ron Smith in the Southwest Ag Press indicated that, of all the possible mishaps that can happen on a farm, transportation accidents including tractor rollovers and accidents with motorists are the leading cause of fatalities. These types of accidents are particularly dangerous for motorists with so much steel and material on or behind tractors, and many having sharp points or edges. Additionally, it can be hard to perceive how fast a tractor is going on the highway given their size or if they are moving by night. Farmers should ensure that all of their flashers work properly on the tractor and implements they pull, with beacons prepared for road travel as well.
To stay safe with tractors on the road, motorists must slow down and wait to pass until the right time. One thing to note about tractors is that with their long implements, many will swing far out into the road to make a turn; motorists should not attempt to quickly pass while the tractor is getting ready to make a turn. It is also important to consider how wide parts of the implement or tractor are when passing, with many implements being as wide as 15 feet. The slow speed of tractors is what aggravates most motorists as many modern ones top out around 25 mph, however some go slower than that and at times the load requires a slower speed on the roadway. There are many factors that seem like common sense in regards to being safe around equipment on the road, yet, with over 15,000 traffic related accidents per year, it is important for everyone involved to do their duty in keeping others safe. Farmers want to get to the next field just as bad or maybe worse than motorists want to get to their destination, and it is up to both sides to ensure everyone gets to their destination safely.
With spring planting being one of the two busiest times of year for farmers in Central Illinois, it is important to be a careful equipment operator as well as motorist on the roadways. Sprayers, planters, and tillage implements pulled behind tractors are bound to be out in force as soon as the weather allows them to be, and farmers will do all that they can to get this season’s activities done as fast and timely as possible. For the safety of everyone, roads must be shared with each party doing their best to keep others safe, with motorists slowing down to give equipment space and farmers utilizing flashers, beacons, and slow moving vehicle symbols. If everyone does their job, the number of accidents between tractors and motor vehicles should be reduced from current levels, improving the safety of rural roadways and of the agricultural industry.
To read more about Rural Roadway Safety from the USDOT;
To read the AGDAILY article from 2018 regarding whether or not tractors are allowed on the road;
To read the Ron Smith article about the fatalities on farms that occur due to traffic accidents;