Local News
Farmers asking for patience as equipment increases on Northeast Arkansas roads
Little Rock, Arkansas – The growing season is in full swing in Northeast Arkansas, so there will be more heavy equipment on the roads.
According to a news release, some farmers in Randolph County are compelled to drive on Highway 67 in order to transfer their machinery.
The farmers explained that they had witnessed vehicles pass their machinery unlawfully and occasionally in a dangerous manner, which made them fearful that an accident was about to happen.
Lancent Lamb, the owner of Twin Oaks Farm, said that getting stopped behind machinery can be annoying, but that due to the design of the road, he is unable to move over without risking damage to his machinery.
“There’s about seven miles through here that is a levee. For that seven miles, we’re hung,” he said. “We can’t let people around. It stacks up for up to a mile behind us.”
According to Lamb, he owns acreage near Randolph County but has thought about selling it because of the traffic.
“We have acreage on the other side of Pocahontas that we have to get to but have been considering letting go because of the traffic, but it is my livelihood, and we’ve been farming it my whole life,” he said.
Sheriff Kevin Bell reported that his office has been contacted every day regarding the farm machinery. He urges motorists to exercise caution when on the road at this time of year.
“There’s a lot of farm equipment being moved on the highway, and we want them to use caution and to try and give these farmers a break on the road and use a little bit of courtesy. They’re trying to do their job and grow the food we eat, and we want everybody to be safe,” he said.
When it has the time, the sheriff’s office is willing to provide escorts.
“We’re trying to help the farmers as much as we can and escort them across the small bridges and stuff whenever we can and try to help out when possible,” Sheriff Bell said.
Farm Manager Jeff Forrester told Region 8 he appreciates the escorts because they give him some protection while he moves his heavy equipment.
“Quite periodically. Either that or we have to have an escort to get to Randolph County because there have almost been multiple wrecks at times,” he said.
Sheriff Bell noted that he has asked for more roadside notice about farm equipment from the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
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