The brief heat wave is over, some rain has fallen to give over dry fields just what they need, and the 2025 harvest is about to kick into high gear. Tom Fricke from the Vermilion County Farm Bureau also reminds us that this (Sept 22nd -28th) is National Farm Safety and Health Week. And Fricke points out that the word “health” was added to this special week a few years ago to make sure the focus is on farm families’ physical and mental health, as well as their safety while working this busy season.
AUDIO: And so we need to make sure we’re not only being safe around the equipment, being safe on the roads, but being safe with ourselves and our workers; and making sure we’re taking rest breaks. (And) that we’re not worrying about things. And if you are worrying about things, which is normal to do, there are people to reach out to.
And reaching out could mean just talking to a neighbor or friend, or calling a helpline like the SIU School of Medicine and Illinois Department of Agriculture’s 24/7 1-833-FARM-SOS.
As for the harvest itself, Fricke say the free corn drying in the recent heat was a nice benefit. But now, this week’s bit of wetness is giving the soybeans a boost.
AUDIO: The rain probably helped the soybeans. Some of the beans were being reported being very dry, so that will help them get back up to a decent moisture percentage, and make them more harvestable. The corn has been going pretty good; what’s been in so far.
As dry as it’s been, Fricke says the recent rain won’t be causing any major harvest delays, as it will soak in quickly. Fricke also reminds us it is still very early for the harvest; and there’s usually no worry about being behind schedule until we get to Halloween.
