I am sure by now you will have seen several slow moving vehicles traveling throughout the community. Yes, it is harvest season, and we are just in the beginning. Farmers will be busy harvesting cotton, peanuts and soybeans. As crops and field conditions dry, harvest season will pick-up speed.

Through all the hustle and bustle of harvest season, people will be seeing more farm equipment on the road. Farmers and motorists should exercise extreme caution when driving tractors and other farm equipment from field to field. As farmers move equipment, the possibility for roadway collisions increases three fold. The National Safety Council estimates some 15,000 collisions involving farm vehicles occur on U.S. roadways each year.

As farmers operate slow-moving vehicles, they should place clearly visible slow moving vehicle emblems on equipment traveling less than 25 mph on public roadways. Equipment operators should use warning flashers as well as signal lights or proper hand signals to indicate to motorists their location and intentions.

Slow-moving vehicles should be driven in the right hand lane as close to the road's edge as possible. It is very common to see tractors driving on half the road and half the shoulder. Even though it is tempting for farmers to signal to motorists when to pass, it is best to pull over and let the rear traffic pass.

Motorists also need to be very cautious when traveling behind a slow-moving vehicle. Equipment drivers may not be able to move over to allow you to pass. Don't quickly pass a slow-moving vehicle on the road. Only pass farm equipment when it is safe to do so, with plenty of room to get around and ahead.

As a motorist, the most important concept to remember is to have patience. We all have a tendency to get in a hurry. The slowmoving vehicle you are behind will eventually get to its destination. A four car pile up is not worth getting upset. If farmers and motorists will follow these safety tips, the only things we have to worry about it is repairing broken equipment and trying to beat the rain!

Upcoming 4-H Events: Jr./Sr. Portfolio Workshops, month of November, complete portfolios due by Nov.30; Candle making Class, Nov. 4, $5; Cooking and Music Class, Nov 5, $2, 3:30-5 p.m.; Fall Festival of Fun, Nov. 14, $5, 7-9 p.m. (5th & 6th grade 35 4- H'ers); Sigma Meeting, Nov. 17, 5-7 p.m. (9th thru 12th grade only); Slumber Party, Nov. 21, 7-10 p.m. (5th & 6th grade 35 4-H'ers); and School Service Project, Nov. 24, free,(5th & 6th grade only).

All events or classes will be held at the 4-H Office.