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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:icalendar-ruby
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
X-WR-CALNAME:Planting season is here\; remain alert to large farm equipment
  on Indiana roads
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Indiana (East)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260908T151043Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_39756533846033
DTSTART:20220421T140000Z
DTEND:20220421T150000Z
DESCRIPTION:INDIANA (April 21\, 2022) — Planting season is quickly approa
 ching for Indiana’s 94\,000 farmers. With the warm weather and sunshine\
 , Hoosier motorists will also see more large slow-moving farm equipment tr
 aveling Indiana’s rural roads and highways. The Indiana State Department
  of Agriculture\, Indiana Department of Homeland Security\, Indiana Depart
 ment of Transportation\, Indiana State Police and Hoosier Ag Today want to
  encourage motorists to slow down\, be alert and be patient on rural roadw
 ays this spring.\n\n“Our farmers have an enormous job to do\, feeding us
  and the rest of the world\,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch\, Secretary o
 f Agriculture. “And with that job comes a tremendous responsibility\; le
 t’s help our farmers out where we can. When you see large farm equipment
  traveling our Hoosier roadways slow down and give them space so everyone 
 can get where they are going safely.”\n\nIn Indiana\, according to the N
 ational Highway Traffic Safety Administration\, in 2020 three vehicles wer
 e involved in crashes with farm equipment\, which resulted in two deaths.\
 n\n“During the spring and fall seasons Indiana sees a drastic increase o
 f large farm equipment on our rural roads and highways\,” said Doug Cart
 er\, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “In our strong agricultural st
 ate\, it is critical that Hoosier motorists know the steps to take when ap
 proaching farm equipment on the roadways to ensure we all make it home saf
 ely to our families.”\n\nWhile the term “farm equipment” encompasses
  a wide range of vehicles\, the most common types motorists will encounter
  during planting season include sprayers\, tractors pulling planters or ti
 llage equipment\, and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These ve
 hicles are wide\, sometimes taking up most of the road\, and often travel 
 at speeds no greater than 25 mph.\n\nThe following list includes several s
 afety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:\n\nFarmers will
  pull over when they are able to let motorists pass\, but it may take time
  for them to get to a safe place to do so.Be patient. Farm equipment is wi
 de\, sometimes taking up most of the road.Be careful when passing. Do not 
 pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any inter
 section\, railroad grade crossing\, bridge\, elevation structure or tunnel
 .Do not try to pass slow-moving farm equipment on the left without ensurin
 g that the farmer driving is not planning a left turn. It may appear that 
 the driver is pulling over to allow a pass when the farmer is actually pre
 paring to turn. You will drive right into its path\, endangering yourself 
 and the farmer.Avoid tailgating\, as some farm equipment might have to mak
 e sudden stops along the road.Allow plenty of time to get to a destination
 \, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.“Moving farm equi
 pment on the roadways is one of the most dangerous parts of my job. It tak
 es time to find a safe space for me to pull over and allow other motorists
  to pass safely. Please be considerate when you drive behind farm equipmen
 t\, drivers and I have the same goal in mind each time we take a trip on H
 oosier roads- to get our work done and make it home safely to our loved on
 es\,” said Brent Bible\, Tippecanoe Co. farmer.\n\nIndiana State Departm
 ent of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler wants to remind motorists farmer
 s work hard to ensure they are being as safe as possible.\n\n“Hoosier fa
 rmers are trying to get to their fields safely and quickly\, just like our
  Hoosier motorists are trying to get to work safely and quickly\,” said 
 Kettler. “I want to encourage motorists to be aware during this spring s
 eason and know that encountering farm equipment is likely and to slow down
  when approaching.”\n\nFor a list of safety tips\, click here or visit i
 sda.in.gov. The following organizations will be working together to share 
 this important safety message during planting season: Hoosier Ag Today\, I
 ndiana Department of Homeland Security\, Indiana Department of Transportat
 ion and Indiana State Police.\n\nClick here for a public service announcem
 ent created by Hoosier Ag Today. Listen to the PSA by tuning into Hoosier 
 Ag Today radio stations. To find a local broadcasting station\, click here
 .\n\nTo download Lt. Gov. Crouch's audio click here. \n\nTo download Bruce
  Kettler's audio click here. \n\nTo download Brent Bible's audio click her
 e. \n\n###
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:Planting season is here\; remain alert to large farm equipment on I
 ndiana roads
URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.in.gov/event/planting_season_is_here_remain_al
 ert_to_large_farm_equipment_on_indiana_roads
CATEGORIES:Press Releases
END:VEVENT
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