News

Stay safe during planting

The end of spring weight limits means more traffic in rural communities.  Jim Byrum, President of the Michigan Agribusiness Association says fertilizer is starting to move and grain is coming out of storage.  He tells Brownfield it’s important for farmers to be safe while moving grain and large equipment.

“Unfortunately drivers, especially those that aren’t from rural areas, don’t know what you’re doing, so time to be especially careful not just as a driver, but also as an operator of that equipment.”

The big issue this planting season according to Byrum is that the fertilizer supply chain is backed up.  “If we get a week or two or longer of dry weather, there’s going to be an awful lot of demand real fast on agribusiness retailers to supply fertilizer in particular.”

In the rush of spring planting, Byrum strongly encourages farmers to be safe.  He says it doesn’t matter how quick you plant or get grain hauled if you don’t make it home.

AUDIO: Interview with Jim Byrum (3:14 mp3):