This week, I chose to resubmit an article from two years ago. It is unfortunate that issues still remain due to a lack of common sense and common courtesy.

As we continue through the transition from summer to fall and the activities surrounding our agricultural community that we are so proud of, I wanted to share some observations. I have written many times about our efforts to coordinate with and provide guidance to our local agricultural community regarding operations on public roads and the obligation to our community and other motorists sharing those same roads.

In some of these areas, we have been successful, while in others, we continue to see room for improvement. We have seen transfer site operations where proper signage and practices mitigate risk, while others fail to take the time and effort to create a safe environment for their workers and others in the surrounding area. We have seen haulers make use of tarping mechanisms to minimize debris leaving their loaded trailers, while others take shortcuts and continue to disregard their obligation to the communities in which they are working.

I bring up these contrasts between responsible and irresponsible operations as a call to action. I am asking those farms, haulers and contractors that have taken the time and spent the resources to do the right thing to call out their counterparts who are failing in their obligation to run legitimate and safe operations.

While we in law enforcement will continue to respond to complaints, attempt to identify those in violation and issue the proper and well-earned citations, we cannot be everywhere. If we ever hope to arrive at a place where we have a truly professional and accountable agricultural community, we will need to work together.

Just as in law enforcement, when one officer’s actions reflect on all other officers, so too do the actions of one hauler or farmer reflect on the entire agricultural community.

Thank you to all those who do the right thing each and every day. Thank you to those operations that have created and nurtured a culture of safety rather than a culture of expedience for the purpose of profit. Thank you to those who are truly doing their best to be good neighbors in our community, which relies so heavily on the success of our agricultural industry.

Whatever your role may be on a given day, ask yourself: “Am I doing the right thing?”