{"id":25290,"date":"2021-04-01T11:51:01","date_gmt":"2021-04-01T15:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=25290"},"modified":"2021-10-01T14:44:42","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T18:44:42","slug":"motorists-and-farmers-urged-to-share-the-road-during-planting-season-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2021\/04\/01\/motorists-and-farmers-urged-to-share-the-road-during-planting-season-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorists and Farmers Urged to Share the Road During Planting Season"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Drivers Should Expect Increase of Slow-Moving Farm Equipment on Rural Routes<\/i><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

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ANNAPOLIS, MD <\/b>\u2013 Spring is here and planting season is underway throughout much of Maryland. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds motorists that they should expect to see an increase of slow-moving farm equipment traveling on state and rural roads. Motorists and farmers are urged to drive with caution and to share the road.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cIt is important that Marylanders are aware that they may encounter large farm vehicles on their routes this time of year,\u201d said Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. \u201cPlanting season is an extremely busy and important time for Maryland farmers who are moving about preparing their fields for this season\u2019s crops. Motorists who approach farm equipment should slow down, be patient, and when safe, pass with caution. Doing so ensures we all get to where we need to go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Maryland is home to 12,429 farms with about two million acres of farmland. The typical planting season usually extends from early April through May. A recent study done by the <\/span>Maryland Soybean Board<\/span><\/a> found that from 2015-2018 a total of 234 car accidents involved farm vehicles\/equipment, with a majority of them occurring between May-October on county and state roads due to a lack of attention.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Farmers are legally allowed to operate farm equipment on public roadways and there are times when farm vehicles must operate on highways to move between farm and field.<\/span> Farming equipment is very large, and will likely share travel lanes while working along adjacent farmland.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If you encounter farm equipment, a farmer understands that your trip is being delayed, so he or she will pull off of the road at the first available safe location to allow you to pass. Do not assume that the farmer can immediately move aside. Road shoulders may be soft, wet, or steep, and this could cause a farm vehicle to tip. Shoulders may be unable to support heavy farm vehicles.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Tips for motorists:<\/span><\/p>\r\n