Dorset Police rural crime team is calling on the public to be “patient and careful on the roads” as an increase in farm traffic is expected with harvest time.
The team said that, at the harvest time of year, hardworking farmers are “out in force” and “putting in the long hours to feed our nation”, and urged the public to be patient.
“We want people to go home safe every evening, to their friends and families, by taking extra care on our Dorset roads,” Dorset Police rural crime team said.
“Should any dangerous or careless driving be observed, people can report potential traffic offences, along with digital evidence such as dash cam footage. This can be submitted via Operation Snap, on the Dorset police website.
“We are also taking this opportunity to urge people to report any suspicious activity to the police. We are advising the public to call 999, should any crime in progress be seen, such as illegal poaching.
“Oh, and on a final note, thank a farmer if you see one.”
Harvest-time fires
NFU Mutual is urging farmers and agricultural contractors to take extra prevention measures before this year’s harvest to prevent “devastating farm fires”.
The rural insurer is specifically urging farmers to protect their combine harvesters from fires this harvest, as more than 90% of the combine harvester fires reported to it in 2022 and 2023 occurred in July and August.
With this year’s harvest season approaching, NFU Mutual is urging farmers to take all possible steps to reduce the risk of fire in their combines, balers and tractors.
The leading rural insurer is also calling for legislation that requires manufacturers to install fire suppression systems as standard on agricultural vehicles, so this is no longer a burden placed on farmers.
NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, Hannah Binns, said combine fires can quickly spread through growing crops to engulf neighbouring fields and properties, so prevention measures are a matter of “protecting human and animals lives” as well as the cost of replacing machinery.
