Fire Safety Measures for a Smooth Harvest Season

Jun 30, 2023

Every year, incidents of combine fires during the harvest season are reported. According to a study conducted out of nearly 9,000 grain combine fires in the U.S., the majority (41.3%) were caused by crop residue. The accumulation of crop residue and dust on engines and in cracks and crevices of the combine contributes to the risk of fire. To reduce this risk, farmers should focus on three key aspects: prevention, preparation, and practicality.

Prevention:

Keep the combine clean by power washing to remove grease, oil, and crop residue. Use leaf blowers to clear chaff, leaves, and other crop materials from bearings, belts, and moving parts.

Eliminate potential heat sources such as exposed electrical wiring, worn bearings, belts, and chains. Regularly check these areas and make necessary repairs.
Use an infrared thermometer to monitor temperatures. Bearings and belts above 180 degrees Fahrenheit can cause damage, and temperatures reaching 300 degrees Fahrenheit require immediate shutdown.
Avoid parking a hot combine in sheds or shops to prevent potential flare-ups.
Inspect electrical lines for bare wires, rodent damage, rubbing, or insulation melting. Use heat-resistant insulation and consider using a chain to discharge static electricity.

Preparation:

Keep a fully charged, 10-pound ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher with UL approval in the combine cab. Have it professionally checked annually.
Mount a second, larger fire extinguisher and a shovel on the exterior of the combine, easily accessible from the ground.
Recharge partially discharged extinguishers.
Carry a cell phone for emergency communication.
Have a plan in case of fire: turn off the engine, grab the fire extinguisher and phone, exit the combine, and seek help while maintaining a safe distance.

Practicality:

Prioritize personal safety and evacuate the combine immediately in the event of a fire.
Call 911 before attempting to extinguish the fire.
Direct extinguishing materials at the base of the fire and approach with caution, as small fires can quickly escalate.
If the fire spreads in the field, consider creating a tilled strip around it as a barrier.
Remember, your safety comes first, and combines can be replaced.
In dry seasons, consider having the sprayer filled with water to create a perimeter in case of a small fire.

Be mindful of weather conditions, as the study by Thelen and team revealed that 48.5% of combine fires occurred between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., when temperatures are highest and relative humidity is lowest. As you prepare for the 2023 harvest, take preventive measures to avoid combine fires, but also be prepared and prioritize safety in case of an emergency.

For additional information on farm safety and best management practices, please visit the following link: https://www.farms.com/farm-safety/

Source : michiganagconnection

Video: Turning Plant Defense Into a Management Strategy

Turning Plant Defense Into a Management Strategy

Understanding how a plant responds to stress is one thing.

Using that knowledge to make better management decisions is another.

Systemic acquired resistance, or SAR, is the plant's more direct defense response. When stress or infection occurs, the plant begins signaling throughout its system and preparing defensive compounds.

But if we know that response exists, can we help prepare the plant before the stress arrives?

The answer starts with understanding what triggers the response and what the plant needs to carry it out.

The Trigger and the Fuel

Salicylic acid plays an important role in triggering the SAR pathway.

Think of it as turning the truck on.

The engine may be running, but it still needs fuel to do the work.

In this case, manganese plays an important role in supporting the enzyme systems involved in the plant's defensive response.

This makes manganese status an important part of the conversation. Whether a producer is using tissue testing, sap analysis, or simply scouting for visible deficiency symptoms, the goal is to make sure the plant has adequate manganese available.

Manganese is required in relatively small amounts, but that does not make its role small.

If the plant receives a signal to defend itself but lacks the nutrition needed to support that response, it may struggle to carry out the process efficiently.

The trigger matters.

The fuel matters too.

Prepare Before the Stress Arrives

The best time to think about stress management is before the plant is overwhelmed.

Once a crop is already struggling, management can quickly turn into a game of catch-up.

This is similar to nitrogen management. Once a plant becomes severely deficient, correcting the problem does not necessarily erase the time and yield potential already lost.

Plant defense can work the same way.

Low-rate, targeted approaches designed to support the SAR pathway may fit best ahead of an expected stress event rather than after significant damage has already occurred.

That requires producers to think about predictable stress.

We may not know exactly what the weather will do tomorrow, but we generally know summer heat is coming. We know certain field conditions increase disease pressure. We know a herbicide application can temporarily stress a crop as the plant processes the chemistry.

Even a properly timed and labeled herbicide application can create a temporary response in the plant.

That does not mean the herbicide is bad.

Weeds can create significantly more yield loss than the temporary stress caused by controlling them.

The question is not whether we should eliminate every stressor.

The question is whether we can better prepare the plant to manage necessary and predictable stress.

Not All Stress Is Bad

Stress is a normal part of plant growth.

A perfectly stress-free environment does not exist in the field.

In fact, some stress is necessary for normal plant development. A plant responds to wind, temperature, moisture, sunlight, and countless other environmental signals throughout the season.

The environment is stress.

The plant's job is to manage it.

Problems begin when the stress load becomes greater than the plant's ability to respond.

Extreme heat, drought, high salt concentrations, disease pressure, and even certain management practices can add to that load.

This is where understanding SAR becomes useful.

Instead of waiting until the plant is visibly struggling, producers can begin identifying periods when stress is likely and make management decisions around those windows.

ISR Starts With the Soil

While SAR is a more direct defense response, induced systemic resistance, or ISR, brings the conversation back to soil health.

The longevity of a farm is closely connected to the health of its soil.

Carbon plays a major role because it supports biological life within the soil. Bacteria, fungi, and other organisms interact with plant roots and influence how the plant grows, accesses nutrients, and prepares for stress.

This is why soil health cannot be reduced to one product or one application.

It is a system.

Keeping living plants in the field longer can support biological activity. Cover crops may fit some operations. Better water management can improve soil conditions.