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September 17, 2025 - The Long Haul of Harvest

Welcoming harvest with tips for staying safe when sharing the road with farm equipment.

As late summer turns to autumn, Alberta’s fields are alive with the hum of combines, tractors, and grain trucks. For farmers, harvest season is the most crucial time of year — a chance to bring in the product of months of hard work, from golden wheat swaying in the breeze to canola glowing under the sun. But as rural roads are filled with heavy farm equipment, it’s also a time when drivers are urged to take extra care and share the road.

Harvest in Alberta typically runs from late August through October, depending on weather conditions. This year, many regions have seen a slightly earlier start thanks to the warm, dry conditions over the last few weeks. While that’s good news for farmers hoping to get crops off before the frost, it also means more agricultural equipment on highways and gravel roads during peak travel times.

This time of year brings longer days for producers, sometimes from sunrise to well into the night. Therefore, this brings producers to be moving equipment on the roads at odd times. This is where other drivers are expected to be patient and give farmers some room by sharing the roads. 

Farm equipment on the road can present unique challenges. Combines, tractors, and grain carts are much larger and slower than most vehicles. A combine can take up more than half the width of a rural road, and its top speed might be 30 km/h — a far cry from the 100 km/h speed limit on many Alberta highways. That can be frustrating for drivers in a hurry, but patience is critical to preventing accidents.

According to Alberta RCMP, collisions involving farm equipment tend to spike during harvest. Most of these accidents are preventable and occur when motorists try to pass too quickly or misjudge the speed of a slow-moving vehicle.

Here are some tips for sharing the road this season:

• Slow down and stay alert. If you see flashing amber lights or a triangular slow-moving vehicle sign, reduce speed and prepare to meet large equipment.
• Pass with caution. Only pass when it’s safe and legal to do so. Large equipment may swing wide to make turns, so watch for hand signals or turn indicators.
• Give plenty of space. Farm equipment may not be able to pull over right away. Maintain a safe following distance until there is room to pass.
• Be patient. Most farm vehicles are only travelling short distances on the road. Waiting a few extra minutes is better than risking a collision.

Farmers are doing their part as well. Many try to move equipment during daylight hours, use pilot vehicles when possible, and have installed proper lighting and reflective markers to improve visibility.

Beyond road safety, harvest season is a reminder of agriculture’s importance to Alberta’s economy and communities. The province is a major producer of wheat, barley, canola, and pulse crops, much of which is exported around the world. A successful harvest not only sustains farm families but supports food security and trade.

As combines roll and grain bins fill, Albertans are reminded to celebrate the bounty of the season — and to help ensure everyone gets home safe by sharing the road. Whether you live in the country or are just passing through, a little extra patience can go a long way in keeping harvest season safe and successful.