Farm-built systems boost safety and harvest efficiency

April 23, 2026 | Kriss Nelson

Duane Olson, a Webster County farmer, says his innovations began with a simple reality: farming is hard work and can be dangerous.

Today, that thinking has led to the invention of two systems designed to improve both bin safety and harvest efficiency.

From injury to innovation

A fall several years ago pushed him to think differently. After falling out of a grain bin and cracking ribs just before harvest, Olson kept working through the pain, but the experience stuck with him.

“I was by myself, scooping behind the sweep auger. The truck needed to be pulled ahead. When I stepped out of the bin, I slipped and broke ribs, and I thought, ‘This just ain’t right,’” he says.

That moment led to the development of MODDCO’s MD Remote Relay, a remote-control setup that allows farmers to operate grain bins, augers and other electrical equipment from a distance or from inside the bin.

MD Remote Relay uses a wearable lanyard switch and gives operators control of grain handling equipment from a distance or while inside the bin, improving safety and efficiency during bin cleanout.

The system is run by a wearable lanyard switch, allowing someone inside the bin to turn equipment on or off instantly.

“We supply two lanyards, and they hang around your neck,” Olson says. “If you’ve got two guys in the bin, then either one can turn the motor on or off.”

For Olson, the safety benefit is clear.

“When you’re inside that bin and that auger’s running, it’s always in the back of your mind,” he says. “What happens if I get caught?”

He’s seen what can happen.

Not only did it almost happen to him, but he also recalls stories of other farmers who were caught in the sweep auger inside the grain bin, including one who was pulled in and severely injured.

“You hear of it every year; somebody’s getting caught in a grain bin,” he says.

The system was designed to address that exact risk, giving operators immediate control without relying on someone outside of the bin.

Beyond the safety aspect, Olson says the system also improves efficiency and reduces the strain of bin cleanout.

The MD Remote Relay can run anything electrical including fans, lights, pumps or augers and can be installed on both new and older bins.

“It can run anything you want to run remotely,” he says. “As long as it’s correctly installed by your electrician, this will do it.”

The design is simple. Farmers use the main control box, then place smaller relay units on each bin or piece of equipment.

“You buy one box, then for every bin you just add one contactor if you don’t have one already on your bin,” he says. “The relay module box has magnets so it can stick to anything metal. The system has a range of about 250 feet, enough to operate equipment from a truck, tractor or nearby building.”

Harvest made easier

The MD Remote Relay focuses on bin cleanout, but what about the harvest process that fills the bin?

Long harvest days and tight labor make every extra set of hands count. MODDCO’s MD Link system is designed to ease that pressure.

The MD Link system was developed to ease the workload of grain cart operators, simplifying coordination with the combine.

A handheld remote allows the combine operator to control the grain cart tractor in real time during harvest.

Olson explained when the grain cart operator gets lined up with the combine, they push a button, then the control shifts to the combine operator, giving the combine operator full control of the grain cart tractor’s speed during the grain cart being loaded.

The MD Link System allows combine operators to control grain cart speed during unloading, helping simplify coordination and reduce labor demands during harvest.

When the grain cart is paired with auto-steer, it can make grain cart operator essentially hands-free during the fill. A simple throttle up of the grain cart tractor disconnects control from the combine.

“Push a button, and now the grain cart operator doesn’t have to do anything until the cart gets loaded,” says Olson.

That can ease the workload during long harvest days and reduce the need for constant radio communication.

“It’s tough to find good help,” Olson says. “By simplifying it for operator, the system can make it easier for less experienced operators to step in and help.”

Olson recalls a moment when his 13-year-old granddaughter was able to help run the grain cart using the system.

“She had never run the tractor before,” he says. “Within 30 minutes, she was doing it herself and was so proud.”

Farm built innovation

For Olson, these inventions reflect a lifetime of problem-solving on the farm, but he’s quick to point to the team behind it.

For the past three years, Olson has worked closely with his son Dan Olson, a graduate of Iowa State University in mechanical engineering, and a business partner, Curt Messerly, a certified electronic technician, to turn ideas into practical tools.
Olson says each has brought a different skill set to the table, shaping the systems into something designed to make farming more efficient. The three combined their names to create MODDCO.

Through MODDCO, the team is helping address some of the biggest challenges on today’s farms. The MD Remote Relay, which focuses on grain bin safety, and the MD Link system tackle the challenge of labor during harvest.

“By simplifying grain handling and reducing the need for constant coordination between operators, the MD Link system helps farms run more efficiently, even with few hands,” says Olson.

The MD Remote Relay adds a critical layer of protection in one of the farm’s most dangerous places.

“Grain bins remain high-risk environments, and giving farmers the ability to control equipment instantly from where they stand can make all the difference,” he says.

For more information on the MD Remote Relay or MD Link System, contact Olson at 515-548-3670.

Written by Kriss Nelson.

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