With the solar eclipse, and worries about how animals will respond, completely out of the way; speculation is now full speed ahead on when Vermilion County farmers will be planting for the new growing season. The Vermilion County Farm Bureau’s Tom Fricke says; yes, we’ve had lots of periodic rain lately. But it’s only a matter of time before we hit a dry stretch, and things can happen pretty quickly these days.
AUDIO: As tillage methods have changed, and as equipment has changed; it doesn’t take as long to get the crop in the ground as it used to. So we can get a big chunk of it knocked out in two or three days if we get some timely decent weather.
And as always, this means more farm vehicles out on the roads. We especially talk about that every year during harvest; but in the spring we’re coming off a few rather quiet months, and it’s a good idea to completely remind ourselves that farm vehicles will soon be out and about a lot. And as Fricke points out, there’s really no reason not to be mentally prepared year ’round.
AUDIO: There can be farm vehicles on the road in the dead of winter, if they’re taking care of livestock and that sort of thing. So just be mindful, if you’re in the country on a township road, don’t be surprised if you come across a tractor pulling equipment sometime.
Fricke says it a matter of always remembering to slow down when you’re out on the country roads, and let’s get through the new growing season safely.
