Tread lightly, drive carefully
Share the road with agricultural equipment
Spring is here - and Spring means large agricultural equipment on our rural roads. Be cautious and share the road.
Avoid driving on wet fields during the Spring season
Driving on wet fields may cause soil degradation and erosion. Compaction disrupts soil porosity and decreases water and air movement into and through soil. Rutting can potentially divert water to unwanted areas and disturb vegetative cover such as perennial crops and beneficial crop residues. Rutted fields have high variations of infiltration rates, resulting in uneven seed germination and yield throughout the field.
Remove soil from equipment after exiting a wet field
Removing dirt and mud helps prevent the transfer of soil from field to field. Transporting soil between fields increases the risk of transferring plant pathogens and weed seeds. This is a significant concern as clubroot, a soil-borne disease, becomes an issue in the greater Edmonton area. The Alberta Clubroot Management Plan recommends that soil and crop debris be removed before leaving or entering a field.
Take care when driving farm machinery and vehicles
Remove dirt and mud from your equipment prior to leaving fields to prevent hazardous driving conditions for yourself and other road users. Drive slowly and carefully on main roadways.
Further information
Transportation and Agriculture Services
780-417-7100 (24 hours)
Last updated: Friday, October 29, 2010
Page ID: 3522