By Scout Nelson
Farmers and ranchers who mow or harvest hay from roadside ditches should make safety their top priority. According to Angie Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension farm and ranch safety specialist, roadside ditches contain many hidden dangers that can lead to equipment damage, serious injuries, or even fatalities if proper precautions are not followed.
Johnson explained that steep slopes, culverts, washouts, soft ground, standing water, roadside debris, and hidden obstacles create challenging working conditions. Before beginning any mowing or haying work, producers should carefully inspect ditches, identify culverts and hazards, and remove trash such as tires, wire, or other objects that could damage equipment or contaminate hay.
Using the proper equipment is another important safety step. Johnson recommends operating tractors equipped with a fully enclosed cab or a rollover protection system (ROPS) combined with a seat belt.
She says, “In an open cab tractor, a ROPS bar in combination with a seat belt can protect you from being thrown and becoming pinned underneath tractor tires in the event the tractor tips or rolls due to the steep conditions of a ditch.”
Additional equipment recommendations include using dual rear wheels for greater stability, keeping front-end loaders low, maintaining mower guards, inspecting balers regularly, greasing moving parts, replacing worn components, and making sure all safety shields remain in place before operating machinery. Power takeoff (PTO) systems should always be disengaged before repairs or maintenance.
Farmers should also practice roadway safety while working near traffic. Hazard lights, turn signals, and slow-moving vehicle signs improve visibility for passing motorists. Operators should avoid entering the roadway unless traffic is clear and wear highly visible clothing when handling hay near roads.
Fire prevention is also important during haying. Cleaning dry plant material from equipment, carrying a working fire extinguisher, staying hydrated, and carrying a cellphone in case of emergencies all help improve safety.
Johnson encourages farmers to carefully evaluate whether harvesting ditch hay is worth the potential risks. She reminds producers, “The bales produced from it are not worth losing a life. Even mowing ditches is dangerous. Reaching for those extra blades of grass with the mower is not worth damaging equipment or risking a life.”
For more farm and ranch safety tips, visit ndsu.ag/farm-safety-26.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fertnig-e
Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Hay & Forage, Equipment & Machinery