Janis Highley, second vice president of the Indiana Farm Bureau, is urging farmers and motorists alike to stay vigilant during the growing season, not just planting and harvest. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — While the phrase “knee high by the Fourth of July” may still echo through Indiana’s farm fields, modern corn is often towering well above head height by late July, and with that growth comes added safety concerns on rural roads, according to Indiana Farm Bureau leadership.

Janis Highley

Janis Highley, second vice president of the Indiana Farm Bureau, is urging farmers and motorists alike to stay vigilant during the growing season, not just planting and harvest. Tall crops like corn can obscure sightlines at rural intersections, increasing the risk of potentially deadly accidents.

Highley, who farms corn and soybeans with her family in northeast Indiana, said some cornfields are already reaching 7 to 8 feet tall in parts of the state. When planted too close to intersections, those towering stalks can block drivers’ views of oncoming traffic, both from other vehicles and large farm equipment.

She encourages farmers to consider planting corn farther back from intersections during the spring and to routinely trim back crops at corner sites during the summer. Simple steps like these, she said, could prevent collisions and save lives.

As chair of the Indiana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, Highley also works to raise awareness around a range of farm safety issues, including rural road precautions, chemical application safety, and grain bin hazards. The committee’s goal is to promote year-round safety measures across Indiana’s agricultural communities.

Highley emphasized the importance of slowing down and staying alert for everyone on rural roads, whether operating machinery or commuting to work. She noted that with mutual awareness and patience, both farmers and drivers can help ensure everyone gets home safely.