MnDOT reminds motorists, farm equipment operators to share road safely in harvest season

With harvest season underway in Minnesota, MnDOT is encouraging drivers to be aware of large farm equipment on the road.

According to a MnDOT news release, 455 crashes involving farm equipment were reported statewide from 2022 to 2024.

Those crashes resulted in eight deaths and 180 injuries.

“Fall harvest season brings more farm equipment to Minnesota highways as farmers move their crops from field to market," wrote MnDOT state traffic engineer Brian Sorenson in the release. "We’re all safer when we work together and watch out for one another. Motorists should always scan the road ahead and slow down as they approach farm equipment."

On Thursday, Kanabec County Sheriff Brian Smith reminded area drivers to be patient when coming across slow-moving farm equipment.

"The big thing is patience," Smith said. "Farm equipment doesn't move along as fast as our normal passenger vehicles, so having some patience when coming across those, and slowing down before you get to them."

Smith added that anticipating that farm vehicles may make an unexpected move helps "go a long way" toward staying safe on area roadways.

MnDOT advises motorists to slow down and watch for farm equipment, particularly between sunrise and sunset on two-lane rural roads.