By James Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health Services

August and September have been dry, with higher-than-normal daytime temperatures prevailing. Crops are drying down quickly, so harvest may be early. All that dry tinder may create fire hazards when harvest equipment starts rolling.

Dry corn and soybean leaves, crop dust, and dry grass are all highly combustible for potential harvest fires. Hot equipment, especially engines and hot exhaust, plus friction from fast-moving gears and belts, hot hydraulic hoses, or hot bearings; it’s no wonder harvest fire hazards are common. Here are several precautions from Ohio State University Extension that farmers can take to protect harvest equipment.

When combines get used for many hours, they get hot; so park them away from buildings and especially fuel

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