It was just after 7 PM on a damp October evening near Oromocto, New Brunswick.
Dale MacLeod, third-generation farmer and owner of a 300-acre dairy and potato farm, was moving his manure spreader between fields. The sky had turned gray, a light fog was rolling in, and the only light came from his tractor’s headlights — which reflected off the mist like a wall.
He didn’t see his younger brother, Jamie, walking from the equipment shed.
“I heard a yell,” Dale says. “I slammed the brakes. The spreader stopped six feet from him.”
Jamie was wearing a high-vis vest, but in the fog and fading light, he was nearly invisible — until it was almost too late.
“I’ve been farming for 35 years,” Dale says. “I’ve always trusted my eyes. But that night, I realized: my eyes failed me.”
The Reality of Farming in Atlantic Canada After Dark
Dale’s story isn’t unique.
Across New Brunswick, PEI, and Nova Scotia, farmers are working later into the evening due to:
- Tight harvest windows
- Storm recovery efforts
- Livestock care
- Equipment maintenance
But as daylight fades earlier each week, visibility drops — and the risks rise.
Fog, rain, and wet fields scatter light, making it nearly impossible to see workers, animals, or obstacles. And unlike city drivers, farmers don’t have streetlights, traffic signals, or reflective road markings.
They’re on their own — with only headlights and hope.
The Turning Point: Discovering InsightDrive™
After the near-miss, Dale started researching solutions. He tried brighter lights. He added reflective tape. But nothing helped in fog.
Then he heard about Robofinity InsightDrive™.
“I didn’t believe it at first,” he admits. “Thermal imaging? AI? On a farm?”
But after a demo, he was sold.
InsightDrive™ detected his son walking 200 meters away — in total darkness. It spotted a deer moving between rows of potatoes. It even saw a loose cow before it reached the road.
“I could finally see what my lights couldn’t,” Dale says.
Business Impact: Safer, Smarter, More Efficient
Since installing InsightDrive™ on his tractor and utility vehicle, Dale has seen real changes:
- Zero near-misses in low visibility
- Increased crew confidence during night work
- Faster response during storm damage and equipment failure
“It’s not just about safety,” he says. “It’s about peace of mind. I can work later, knowing I won’t hit someone I can’t see.”
And for his business, that means:
- Fewer delays
- Lower insurance risk
- Happier, safer crew
Why New Brunswick Farms Need Smarter Vision
New Brunswick’s unique conditions make traditional lighting ineffective:
- Coastal fog forms quickly and lingers
- Wet fields reflect and distort light
- Rural roads lack ambient lighting
- Wildlife activity increases in fall and winter
InsightDrive™ doesn’t rely on visible light — it detects heat signatures, allowing it to identify people, animals, and vehicles up to 656 feet (200 meters) ahead, even in fog, rain, or total darkness.
The Bottom Line: Safety Is a Family Business
For Dale, farming isn’t just a job — it’s a legacy.
“I don’t want my kids to grow up on a farm where they’re at risk just because it’s dark.”
After his experience, he’s now advising other farmers in the Fredericton and Miramichi regions to consider InsightDrive™.
“It’s not expensive compared to a hospital bill. Or a funeral.”
Learn more about how InsightDrive™ keeps farm families safe
Request a business consultation for agricultural fleets
