From the Editor’ s Desk
Contents
September
Feature
FFA members are
6 building practical agricultural skills, exploring career paths, and finding ways to strengthen their communities.
2026
Volume 52 • Number 9
Service Story
A Kansas farming operation improves efficiency by bringing fuel, tools, and maintenance capabilities directly to the field.
14
Safety
10
Farm Safety & Health Week highlights the equipment, fatigue, heat, and other hazards that can make a busy harvest season more dangerous.
Equipment Spotlight
18
Explore skid steers designed to handle everything from barn cleanout and bale handling to grading, brush clearing, and seasonal work.
departments
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From the Editor’ s Desk
To our farmers and ranchers, on the cover
F
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There is something about September that makes the changing seasons feel real. The days are getting shorter, temperatures begin to drop, and the landscape starts to look a little different.
But on the farm or ranch, there is rarely a true pause between seasons. One set of responsibilities simply gives way to another. This time of year calls for a little extra awareness. Long days, changing weather, busy equipment schedules, and the pressure to get work done can create conditions where small oversights become bigger problems. Taking a few extra minutes to check equipment, review safety practices, or think through the next day’ s workload can make a meaningful difference when the pace is high.
Fall is also a season of transition and planning. The decisions made now can affect how smoothly the operation moves into winter, from preparing equipment and facilities to making sure livestock have the care and resources they need as conditions change. Even small improvements can add up over time.
At the same time, agriculture continues to grow through the people who will carry it forward. Across the country, young people are gaining hands-on experience, learning about the many career paths within the industry, and finding their place in agriculture.
As another season begins to turn, this is a good time to stay alert, look ahead, and make room for both the work at hand and the lessons each season brings.
— The Farmers Hot Line Editorial Team
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4 | 800-247-2000 | 515-955-1600 | September 2026