By WAYNE BECKER AgriLife Extension Agent
With the boundaries of rural and urban America blending more and more everyday, it is important for all motorists to be aware and cautious of farm equipment on the roads. According to the National Safety Council, approximately 1/3 of fatal tractor accidents occur on public roads. In order to decrease the chance of a collision, motorists should follow these 6 rules of the road.
Pointers from the Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention and Education include a list of good information:
• Slow down when you see a piece of agricultural equipment. Most farm equipment is designed to travel at speeds of only 15-25 mph.
• Watch for Slow-Moving-Vehicle (SMV) signs. SMVs are required for vehicles traveling less than 25 mph.
• Watch for hand signals. Just because a tractor veers right does not mean the operator is pulling over to allow someone to pass. The size of farm equipment often requires wide turns.
• Pass farm equipment cautiously. Even when passing safely and legally, the turbulence created by a vehicle may cause the machinery to become unstable. Do not expect operators to drive their equipment onto the shoulder of the road. Driving with one set of tires on loose-surfaced shoulders increases the risk of overturn.
• Watch for flashing amber lights. This type of light often marks the far right and left of farm equipment. Also watch for reflective tape marking extremities and sides of equipment.
• Remember that agricultural operators have a right to drive their equipment on the road.
Consider these Fast Facts next time you encounter agricultural equipment on the road.
• car moving at 50 mph has less than 10 seconds to avoid a collision with a tractor moving 20 mph that is 400 feet ahead. It only takes 5 seconds for a motorist driving 55 mph to close a gap the length of a football field when approaching a tractor moving at 15 mph.
• Nearly half of all incidents between motorists and farm implements involve one of two scenarios- the left hand turn collision or the rear-end collision.
Watering Zones in our Landscape
Dr. Douglas Welsh, Extension Horticulturist has informed us that every plant in the nursery or garden center truly has a place in an EarthKind® or Xeriscape landscape. It's not which plant you use, but where you put it. Three different plant zones can be incorporated into a water efficient landscape:
— Regular Watering Zone,
— an Occasional Watering Zone,
— and a Natural Rainfall Zone.
Regular Watering Zone:
• Plants in this zone would require watering once every week or more, once established, in the absence of rain.
Occasional Watering Zone:
• These plants would require watering once every two or three weeks, once established, in the absence of rain.
Natural Rainfall Zone:
• Plants in this zone would require only natural rainfall, once established.
By zoning the plants in the landscape according to their water requirements, you prevent the situation of having to over water one plant type to meet the needs of another. Every region of Texas has a palette of plants to choose from which are adapted to the soil, temperature extremes, and pest problems of the area. The challenge for both the professional and amateur gardener is to categorize the plants based on expected water requirements. By using the categories of natural rainfall, occasional watering, and regular watering, most gardeners can find the best place in the garden for the plants in their region.
For example, in much of Texas (areas of 30+ inches of rainfall), the following categorization is often used:
Regular Watering Zone: Turf grasses and annual flowers
Occasional Watering Zone: Perennial flowers and tender woody shrubs and vines
Natural Rainfall Zone: Tough woody shrubs and vines, and all trees
All plants do have a place in a Xeriscape or EarthKind® landscape.
Visit your nursery or garden center today and start creating your own beautiful, water-conserving landscape.
Dates To Remember:
December 7 – Red River Regional Beef Replacement Sale; 12:00 P.M. at
the New Gainesville Livestock Market
December 8 - Cooke County Marketing Club, 7:00 P.M.; Gainesville Farm
Bureau Building
