If people are out driving in rural areas this fall, they can switch on the cruise control and use the GPS for directions. But there's no patience option to turn on when stuck behind slow-moving farm machinery.

This is one of the reasons this week has been declared National Farm Safety and Health Week. Due to the fall harvest season, drivers are warned to take their time, as there will be a higher volume of farm equipment on country roads this time of year.

According to the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, based in the University of Iowa's College of Public Health, more than 1,100 accidents occur annually between farm equipment and motor vehicles in the center's nine-state region, which includes Missouri. In 2008, 186 accidents occurred in Missouri, according to the center's traffic safety officials.

Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman for Troop H, which covers Northwest Missouri, Sgt. Sheldon Lyon said while those numbers exist for the whole state, he doesn't see it as a huge problem in the area.

"Usually this time of year comes and goes without incident," he said. "Periodically, we will see a crash involving (farm equipment) and a motor vehicle. But it's not something I would say is a problem and makes this time of the year unsafe."

Don Callow, a farmer and owner of Callow's Fresh Farm Produce in Barnard, Mo., said most of the problems farmers see could be avoided if drivers yield.

"We just need them to slow down," he said. "We go 15 to 20 miles per hour and they want to go 50 to 60."

Though advances in farm equipment have made it more efficient for farmers in terms of size, speed and safety, problems still exist when drivers get stuck behind them, Richard Oswald, board chairman of the Missouri Farmers Union in Jefferson City, said.

"It's a bigger challenge than it used to be," he said. "Most farm equipment is a lot wider than it used to be."

For example, a typical combine harvester takes up more than one lane of road, even when its grain platform, which is used to cut crops, is taken off.

Mr. Oswald said the drivers that he deals with tend to understand the situation and adjust accordingly.

"People within the farming community ... they cope with it pretty well," he said.

Still, there's always a few angry people, Mr. Callow said.

"I've had (drivers) honk at me and give me 'the bird'," he said.

While Northwest Missouri has been fortunate enough to have a lack of accidents between drivers and farmers, Mr. Lyon warns drivers that now is not the time to slack off.

"Be vigilant and watch for them. Especially on those two-lane, blacktop roads," he said. "When you come up on that hill, slow down a bit. Always be prepared for a large, over-dimensioned machinery around the bend."

Andrew Gaug can be reached at andrewgaug@npgco.com.