Community Outreach Program Urges Motorists to Share the Road with Farm Equipment During Fall Harvest

Maryland Soybean Board's Find Me Driving campaign reminds drivers to slow down as harvest activity increases on rural roads

CORDOVA, Md., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As Maryland's fall harvest gets underway, motorists can expect to encounter more slow-moving farm equipment on rural roads, often during early morning and evening hours when visibility may be reduced. As nightfall arrives earlier, combines, tractors and grain trucks continue moving between fields well after sunset. These farm vehicles are sharing roads with motorists who may not be prepared for slow-moving equipment in low-light conditions. The Maryland Soybean Board and its "Find Me Driving" campaign are calling on all drivers to adjust accordingly: slow down, assess your surroundings and move with caution.

Harvest season intensifies road conditions in two critical ways. First, earlier sunsets result in more farm equipment on public roads during low-light hours, reducing visibility for both drivers and farmers. Second, seasonal activity significantly increases the volume of slow-moving vehicles on those same roads — meaning the chances of encountering a combine or grain truck around any bend are higher.

Farm equipment is built for the field, not for speed. Under Maryland law, vehicles designed to travel at 25 mph or less generally must display a slow-moving vehicle emblem when operating on a highway. The fluorescent orange-and-red triangle alerts motorists that they are approaching a vehicle traveling at a significantly lower speed.

"Right now, we're moving equipment from field to field every single day during the harvest, often from before dawn until after dark. Fewer daylight hours make those hours even trickier," said Tyler Rill of Lippy Brothers Farms. "Drivers have busy schedules too. But easing off the gas, staying alert, and giving us a little extra room helps every one of us get home safely."

"From September through November is when our roads see a high volume of slow-moving farm equipment during the fall harvest," said Danielle Bauer, Executive Director of the Maryland Soybean Board. "Farmers are working relentlessly to get crops out of the field, all while navigating roads that are busy and dark. Our Find Me Driving campaign and our mascot SAM® are here to remind every driver that awareness and patience are what keep both farmers and motorists safe during this crucial stretch."

The campaign's mascot, SAM®, is a friendly cartoon slow-moving vehicle sign whose name doubles as a simple safety checklist: Slow down. Assess your surroundings. Move with caution.

When approaching farm equipment, motorists should slow down early, increase following distance, and avoid passing unless it is legal and there is enough clear roadway to do so safely. Drivers should also remember that farm equipment may be wider than a travel lane and may need additional room to make turns or enter and exit fields.

"These three easy steps can lead to a safer harvest for farmers and all motorists," Bauer adds.

With more than 12,600 farms statewide, Maryland's agricultural industry plays an important role in communities across the state. During harvest season, farmers are working long hours to bring in the crops that help feed Maryland families and communities. That work often requires moving large, slow-moving equipment between fields using the same rural roads motorists travel every day. A little patience and extra caution behind the wheel can help ensure everyone gets where they're going safely.

For more information on farm equipment road safety during fall harvest time, visit FindMeDriving.com or follow Find Me Driving on social platforms.

About Maryland Soybean Board: The Maryland Soybean Board is funded by the national soybean checkoff program, which assesses one-half of one percent of the net market value of soybeans at the first point of sale. The board consists of 10 volunteer farmer-directors and directs funds for research, marketing and education programs to benefit the Maryland soybean industry. For more information, visit mdsoy.org.

SOURCE Maryland Soybean Board