As Guthrie County has seen more favorable weather for fieldwork, area producers are working day and night to get their crops harvested.

This increased pressure to get corn and soybeans dug out can lead to fatigue for farmers. Guthrie County Extension Field Agronomist Mike Witt says most farmers will want to get their harvest completed no matter their tiredness. Witt gives advice for those working overnight, “Be prepared and have a back up plan. When I say be prepared, have your snack, have your food, or have somebody that’s able to get them to you. Also another thing that I would say is have a backup driver or have somebody else who can run a combine or would run a grain cart or something for you.”

Witt also says taking short naps throughout the night can help greatly in the long run, as one mistake on the field can cost you. Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health says following an injury, the average farm income is reduced by 30%, and research by Decision Innovation Solutions shows an Iowa farm can lose up to $635,000 in sales following the death of a primary operator.