How Daylight Saving Time Affects Agriculture Work

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This year, Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends on Sunday, November 2 at 2 a.m. Eastern Time. This is when the clocks are supposed to “fall back” one hour so there will be an extra hour of daylight in the mornings, but it will get dark earlier in the evenings.

Obviously, this is going to have a temporary effect on many people because the time change disrupts circadian rhythms, which is the body’s internal 24-hour cycle that regulates physical, mental, and behavioral changes, primarily the sleep-wake cycle. It’s been compared to the feeling of jet lag, which people express causes them to be drowsy, slow-reacting, and irritable. 

For those who get up early and work long days, such as those in agricultural fields, the time change affects job schedules and output when working by the amount of available daylight. For a better understanding of the impact, we’re taking a closer look at Daylight Saving Time and some of the adjustments that may need to be made to better acclimate.

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Daylight Saving Time History

Daylight Saving Time was initially created as an energy conservation initiative primarily during World War I and World War II. By shifting daylight hours later into the evening starting in spring, it was deduced that having an extra hour of daylight would help to save fuel and power, and it extended the workday for war-related activities, especially in the field.

The measure was first adopted in the United States in 1918 but was later discontinued. It was reinstated during World War II, then discontinued again until 1966 when it was reinstated with the passing of the Uniform Time Act.

A few facts about Daylight Saving Time:

• In the U.S., DST runs from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.
• The only two states that do not currently observe DST are Hawaii and parts of Arizona (the Navajo Nation does observe it). The American territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also do not observe it.
• DST lasts for a total of 34 weeks (238 days), which is approximately 65% of the year.
• During the 1973 oil embargo, the U.S. implemented a temporary year-round DST to try to save more energy.
• Germany was the first country to implement DST, beginning it in 1916.
• Daylight Saving Time is often mispronounced as “Savings” time. There is no “s” at the end of “Saving.”

A Difficult Transition

Many in the agricultural industry, especially independent or livestock farmers, are not big fans of Daylight Saving Time because it disrupts their schedules, which is dictated by the sun, not the clock. Shifting the clock disrupts the natural rhythms of livestock—as an example, cows that need to be milked at specific times—and it reduces the amount of useful morning light needed for planting and harvesting.

Research also shows that the disruption of normal patterns can be harmful to a person’s health. In fact, there is normally a spike in heart attacks, particularly on the Monday following the implementation of DST in the spring. DST has also been associated with an increase in strokes.

There are safety aspects to consider, too. A 6% increase in fatal car accidents has been observed in the week following DST’s start. Workplace injuries rise, especially in jobs that require physical labor. And, there appears to be an immediate overall decrease in productivity due to fatigue.

The End of DST?

The U.S. Senate passed the U.S. Sunshine Protection Act in 2022 to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, but it stalled in the House and was never signed into law. There has been speculation that the current administration is considering doing away with it entirely. At the moment, nothing is changing.

However, there are things you can do to mitigate the effects of Daylight Saving Time—as well as what you might experience when it ends. While you can always promote health habits, daily exercises, and best practices for the worksite, one suggestion for the upcoming change is to gradually adjust your sleep schedule in the days prior by going to bed and waking up 15 minutes later each day. Another is to maintain a consistent routine for meals and exercise.

It is also suggested that limited exposure to screen time (cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc.) and avoiding alcohol before bed can help regulate sleep patterns. Fortunately, for our agricultural workers, the end of DST will mean more daylight in the morning, although the shorter days of winter still limit the amount of available sunlight time.

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That being said, if you need machines that can make the day’s work faster and more efficient, the marketplace has many options to help save you time. We can’t change the number of hours on the clock that you have to work, but we can help make the buying and selling process easier by connecting you with the nation’s largest selection of new and pre-owned equipment.

Barrett Baker

Barrett Baker is a freelance writer with more than 40 years of writing experience. He has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and a variety of advertising and marketing firms throughout his career. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, cooking, and working with animal rescues.

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