News

Southern rust and dry weather combine to heighten harvest fire threat

A dry harvest for many growers means fire danger is increasing.

Iowa State University Extension agronomist Angie Rieck-Hinz says disease pressure resulted in a premature end to the corn crop in north Iowa.

“We really need to be thinking about fire safety in fields. Things are exceptionally dry, this crop is really dusty (and) dirty with all that southern rust out there.”

She tells Brownfield there are precautions farmers can make with harvesting equipment.

“Keeping filters clean, keeping things lubed (and) oiled, and some daily maintenance to get that combine cleaned off. I think those are really important, we’ve already had several field fires across Iowa this year.”

The National Weather Service says unseasonably hot temperatures will continue for much of the Plains and Midwest the remainder of the week with limited precipitation chances.