This week we celebrate National Farm Safety Week. Taking the time to educate people on precautionary measures to ensure safety on the farm is crucial, as it can be a dangerous place. As we approach the thick of it in harvest season, one of the most important ways we can be sure to stay safe is by focusing on communication.
Harvest season is a busy time of year, people are tired, hungry, and probably not thinking clearly due to the combination of both. Make sure that everyone on the team is equipped with the communication tools they need to make harvest go smoothly. Now days, most tractors are equipped with a charging port. Everyone should have phone chargers on hand throughout the day. Often during harvest, farmers will be working longer hours than normal and having a way to get ahold of the harvest crew is critical.
Two-way radios, cellphones, and headsets are normally the main form of communication. Everyone should have some form of communication that will allow them to connect with each other in case of an emergency. These also come in handy when communicating field directions, instructions, and conditions thoroughly to the harvest crew. For some, this may be their first harvest season. Notifying the team of areas to avoid, where to correctly pull in the field drive, and giving specific directions on how to get to the field will make things easier. Confusion in these areas can cause frustration, stress, and result in downtime. As they say, time is money.
Everyone needs to be on the same page during planting and harvest. These seasons are some of the most dangerous times of the year for farmers across the country. If there is a lack of communication, mistakes are more likely to occur. Clearly define expectations prior to harvest, during, and after. Communication shouldn’t stop once harvest begins but should continue throughout its entirety.
Accidents tend to happen due to a lack of communication. This harvest season, take the time to execute the harvest plan properly and share the plan with your team.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy harvest this season!
Jenna Byrne is an associate editor for Hoard’s Dairyman. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2022, majoring in agricultural business with an emphasis in communications and marketing. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm near Neillsville, Wis.