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      • Busting the Myths about “Smart Meters”
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      • Nominations Are Now Open In Districts 1, 7 and 8
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      • Remodeling the Heart of Your Home
      • Virtual Home-Energy Audits
      • Smartphone Energy Apps
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      • 4th Annual Member Appreciation Pancake Feed
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      • Stearns Electric Line Worker Injured on the Job
      • Stearns Electric Line Worker Injured -Update
      • Local Democracy Legislation Member Forum To Be Held
      • Efficient Kitchen Lighting
      • Harvest Workers Urged to Take Time to Reap Safe Harvest
      • The Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps
      • Holiday Lighting Tips
      • Appeal of Electric Vehicles Gaining Momentum
      • Member Survey - 2018
      • Switch Things Up with Stylish, Efficient Lighting for Your Home
      • What's Hot? The Way You Get Most of Your Electricity
      • 2017 ORU Recipient: Melrose Project Give-A-Gift
      • Residential Battery Storage is the Energy Trend to Watch
      • Nominations Are Now Open in Districts 4, 5 and 9
      • Manager's Message December 2017
      • Manager's Message February 2018
      • Energy Efficiency for the Modern Family and its Many Devices
      • Fall Into Energy Savings
      • Look To Your Air Conditioner for Heat and Savings This Fall
      • Efficient Holiday Lighting
      • Energy Is: Efficiency - Rohe Dairy
      • Manager's Message November 2018
      • Great River Energy's 2019 Outlook: Lower Rates, Cash Back
      • Electrify Your Holiday Gift List
      • Member Notice: City of Waite Park Franchise Fee
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      • Manager's Message December 2018
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      • Efficiency is Electric

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  • harvest safety
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  • 2018
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  • 2019
    • February
      • Efficiency is Electric
    • January
      • Anna Marie's Alliance Wins Local Touchstone Energy Community Award
  • 2018
    • December
      • Small Heaters Can Lead to Bigger Bills
      • Manager's Message December 2018
      • Electrify Your Holiday Gift List
      • Member Notice: City of Waite Park Franchise Fee
      • 2019 Director Nominations Open
    • November
      • Efficient Holiday Lighting
      • Manager's Message November 2018
      • Great River Energy's 2019 Outlook: Lower Rates, Cash Back
      • Energy Is: Efficiency - Rohe Dairy
      • Energy Is: Efficiency - Rohe Dairy
      • Look To Your Air Conditioner for Heat and Savings This Fall
    • October
      • Fall Into Energy Savings
      • Manager's Message October 2018
      • Tips to Stay Comfortable This Winter
      • GRE Delivers Transformer to New Substation
      • Stay Focused on Safety During Harvest
    • September
      • Gruenes Receives National Service Award
      • 2018 ORU Recipient: St. John's Community Park
    • June
      • Doege to Lead Stearns Electric Association as Next CEO
      • Road Trip; Recharged: An EV Expedition
      • Manager's Message June 2018
      • Member Appreciation 2018 - Pancake Feed
    • May
      • Manager's Message May 2018
      • 2018 ORU Recipient: St. Cloud Amateur Radio Club
    • April
      • What is the Fixed Charge on My Electric Bill?
      • Manager's Message April 2018
    • March
      • Manager's Message March 2018
      • 10 Tips for Spring Energy Savings
      • Environmentally Beneficial Electrification
      • The Value of Electricity Continues to Shine
    • February
      • Manager's Message February 2018
      • Residential Battery Storage is the Energy Trend to Watch
      • What's Hot? The Way You Get Most of Your Electricity
    • January
      • Member Survey - 2018
      • Manager's Message January 2018
      • Touchstone Energy Award 2018
      • How Smart Should You Get When Purchasing a New Thermostat?
      • How Can We Better Serve You in 2018?
  • 2017
    • December
      • Energy Efficiency for the Modern Family and its Many Devices
      • Switch Things Up with Stylish, Efficient Lighting for Your Home
      • Manager's Message December 2017
      • Nominations Are Now Open in Districts 4, 5 and 9
      • 2017 ORU Recipient: Melrose Project Give-A-Gift
      • Appeal of Electric Vehicles Gaining Momentum
      • Holiday Lighting Tips
    • September
      • The Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps
      • Harvest Workers Urged to Take Time to Reap Safe Harvest
      • Efficient Kitchen Lighting
    • August
      • Local Democracy Legislation Member Forum To Be Held
      • Stearns Electric Line Worker Injured -Update
      • Stearns Electric Line Worker Injured on the Job
      • More Americans Driving Electric Vehicles
      • 4th Annual Member Appreciation Pancake Feed
    • June
      • INVESTING IN RELIABILITY BY ADDRESSING HAZARD TREES AND RIGHT-OF-WAY
      • Managers Message | Electric Cars and Summer Storms
    • February
      • Smartphone Energy Apps
      • EnergyWise Water Heating
      • Virtual Home-Energy Audits
      • Remodeling the Heart of Your Home
    • January
      • What Makes a Utility Great
  • 2016
    • December
      • Nominations Are Now Open In Districts 1, 7 and 8
      • The Consumer-Centric Utility
      • You’re in good company with co-ops
      • $3 Off LED Holiday Lights Promotion
      • Stearns Electric warns of Bill Payment Scam
    • November
      • $1 MILLION capital credit return
      • Companies That Care
      • Busting the Myths about “Smart Meters”
    • October
      • Energy Outlook
      • Energy Explorers | Energy Vampire Activity
      • 2016 ORU Recipient: Project ASTRIDE
      • Why We Celebrate Cooperatives
    • September
      • ENERGYWISE 2016 FALL PROMOTION
      • Operation Round Up Recipient: Kinship of Morrison County
    • August
      • What you need to know about SCADA
      • Women and Cooperatives
      • Manage your Energy Use with These Handy Apps
      • 2016 ORU Recipient: United Arts of Central MN
    • May
      • MAKE THE MOST OF CEILING FANS
      • Improve Comfort and Save Energy by Sealing Air Leaks
      • National Electrical Safety Month Addresses Common Home Electrical Hazards
    • April
      • TRIMMING FUTURE PROBLEMS
      • 2016 Election Results
      • Great River Energy: Meeting the Needs of a Changing Membership
    • March
      • How To Clean Refrigerator Coils
      • Join Fellow Co-op Members at the 2016 Annual Meeting
      • Why We Celebrate Cooperatives
      • DANGER! Outlet Overload
    • February
      • 2016 Director Candidates
      • Youth Tour Empowers Central MN Students with Skills to Last a Lifetime
      • Top Five Energy Users in your Home
      • Be Prepared For Winter Storms
    • January
      • Honor Quilts Recieves 2015 Touchstone Community Award
      • Seal Air Leaks with Caulk
      • Stearns Electric is Looking for the Next Generation of Leaders
  • 2015
    • December
      • Why Electric Co-ops Replace Utility Poles
      • LEDs for the Holidays
    • November
      • 2015 ORU RECIPIENT | POCKETS OF HOPE
    • October
      • #2015Co-op Month: Concern For Community
      • #2015Co-op Month: Cooperative Among Cooperatives
      • #2015Co-op Month: Education, Training, and Information
      • 2015 ORU RECIPIENT | THE SARTELL MILL ART PROJECT
      • #2015Co-op Month: Autonomy and Independence
      • #2015Co-op Month: Member's Economic Participation
      • #2015Co-op Month: Democratic Control
      • #2015Co-op Month: The Power of Membership
      • 2015 ORU RECIPIENT | BECKY’S TROOP CARE PACKAGE PROJECT
    • September
      • Community Solar: A Member Story
      • 2015 Legislative Summary
    • July
      • Electric Bill To Have New Look
    • June
      • Patrick Bleth Named New CEO
    • January
      • 4th Graders Send Letters
  • 2014
    • December
      • Director Nominations Now Open
    • October
      • Stearns Electric Launches SecurePay
      • Slam The Scams
    • August
      • 2014 Member Appreciation Pancake Feed Video Recap
    • June
      • Join Us For A Member Appreciation Event
      • STEARNS ELECTRIC SPONSORS MN TWINS PLAY BALL! MN YOUTH CLINICS
    • May
      • MyMeter To Be Replaced By SmartHub My Usage
    • February
      • SmartHub Launched
    • January
      • MREA Youth Tour

Stay Focused on Safety During Harvest

 

October 3, 2018

 

During harvest season, many farmers reap the benefits of advancement in agricultural technology. With the help of GPS auto-steer devices, farmers are able to decrease driver error and maximize productivity. Yet safety risks remain. To help farmers stay out of harm’s way, we’re sharing tips for a safe harvest.

 

harvestBLOG.jpg


GPS with auto-guidance provides farmers with real-time location data about a field, which can be used
for crop planning, map making, navigation assistance and machinery guidance. During harvest, this technology allows drivers to have their hands off the steering wheel as the combine maneuvers itself through the field. Thanks to this technology, farmers can more easily and efficiently maintain accuracy even during low-light conditions, which enhances productivity.


One critical part of safety around electricity is awareness. It’s important to remember that farm machinery is vulnerable to hitting power lines because of its large size, height and extensions. Being aware of the location of overhead power lines and planning a safe equipment route can help reduce accidents.

In equipment with auto-guidance systems, less focus is needed on steering, which may lead some drivers to think that they do not need to be as aware of navigation issues. However, even while using a GPS with auto-steering, farm workers need to keep safety in mind and stay focused on their surroundings.  


Putting safety first requires alertness, focus and knowledge of potential hazards and safety steps. Varying pass-to-pass accuracy levels and potential issues, such as power poles not being correctly plotted in the system, reinforce the need for drivers to stay focused on the location of the farm equipment while in the field and to be ready to take action if necessary.


Regardless of the technology used on the farm, keep the following electrical safety guidelines in mind:

  • Use a spotter when operating large machinery near power lines.
  • Keep equipment at least 10 feet from power lines—at all times, in all directions.
  • Look up and use care when moving any equipment such as extending augers or raising the bed of grain trucks around power lines.
  • Inspect the height of farm equipment to determine clearance.
  • Always set extensions to the lowest setting when moving loads to prevent contact with overhead power lines. Grain augers should always be positioned horizontally before being moved.
  • Never attempt to move a power line out of the way or raise it for clearance.
  • If a power line is sagging or low, contact Stearns Electric Association.

If your equipment does make contact with a power line, do not leave the cab. Immediately call 911, warn others to stay away until the utility crew cuts the power. The only reason to exit equipment that has come into contact with overhead lines is if the equipment is on fire, which is rare. However, if this is the case, jump off the equipment with your feet together and without touching the ground and machinery at the same time. Then, still keeping your feet together, hop to safety as you leave the area.

 

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Melrose Office (Headquarters)

PO Box 40
900 Kraft Dr SE
Melrose, MN
56352-0040

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(320) 256-4241
(800) 962-0655
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29643 Frontage Rd.
St. Joseph, MN
56374-9856

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