indiana Prairie Farmer Logo

Grain augers and power lines are one connection you don't want to make on your farm.

Tom Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

October 22, 2014

2 Min Read

'Tis the season to harvest corn. In fact, it's getting late in the season compared to some years, and most still have lots of corn to harvest. The temperatures are getting colder and cloudy days and wet weather are fairly common. You're in a hurry and so are you're helpers.

It's the perfect set-up for a farm accident, even a farm fatality or serious injury, that doesn't have to happen.

Related: Watch Out for Power Lines for Harvest Time Electrical Safety

grain_augers_power_lines_dont_mix_1_635495691329981250.JPG

One such possibility is if you or someone working for you is moving the grain auger from one farm to another farm, or even one bin to another, with overhead power lines in the area. If you have all power lines underground that's great, but maybe the grain bins you're renting from the neighbor down the road are next to overhead power lines. You're not familiar with putting an auger up to that bin.

If you get the auger against the lines, fireworks can start. That's when electrocution or serious injury is possible. The worst possible case is to step off the tractor once the auger is into the lines, with one foot on the ground and one still on the metal of the tractor. You complete the circuit, and it flows through you.

Related: Stay Safe When Sprayer Hits a Power Line

The picture depicts a grain auger that is too close to power lines, maybe in the power lines. This demonstration was conducted by a skilled lineman for an Indiana REMC. It gets real dramatic when he puts a hot dog in the mix and the electricity flows through it, cooking it almost instantly.

One problem with augers is that it can be difficult to judge distances, including the distance from the auger in length, and the space between the auger and the power lines in height. The best option is to not take chances, and make sure there is no possibility of getting the auger against the lines before you start. If there is, chart another course of action.

About the Author(s)

Tom Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

Tom Bechman is an important cog in the Farm Progress machinery. In addition to serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer, Tom is nationally known for his coverage of Midwest agronomy, conservation, no-till farming, farm management, farm safety, high-tech farming and personal property tax relief. His byline appears monthly in many of the 18 state and regional farm magazines published by Farm Progress.

"I consider it my responsibility and opportunity as a farm magazine editor to supply useful information that will help today's farm families survive and thrive," the veteran editor says.

Tom graduated from Whiteland (Ind.) High School, earned his B.S. in animal science and agricultural education from Purdue University in 1975 and an M.S. in dairy nutrition two years later. He first joined the magazine as a field editor in 1981 after four years as a vocational agriculture teacher.

Tom enjoys interacting with farm families, university specialists and industry leaders, gathering and sifting through loads of information available in agriculture today. "Whenever I find a new idea or a new thought that could either improve someone's life or their income, I consider it a personal challenge to discover how to present it in the most useful form, " he says.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like