Protect Farm Equipment from Fires During Harvest

By Scout Nelson

Harvest season can bring new challenges when changing weather conditions delay fieldwork. After dry weather, weeks of clouds, mist, and wet fields can leave farmers eager to harvest as soon as conditions improve. However, rushing into the fields without proper preparation can increase the risk of equipment fires. 

More than half of South Dakota farmland experiences moderate to extreme drought at some point during the growing season, making fire prevention an important concern.

Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension Interim Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Director and Livestock Business Management Field Specialist, highlighted the importance of preparing equipment, managing field conditions, and reviewing insurance coverage to reduce the risks associated with harvest fires.

Equipment Maintenance Helps Prevent Fires

Preventing a fire is easier than fighting one after it starts. Fires often begin in engine compartments because of high temperatures, electrical problems, leaking fuel or oil, and the buildup of dry crop dust and plant material.

Farmers should inspect harvesting equipment before the season begins and continue checking it every day. Bearings, chains, seals, electrical wires, and other parts that create heat or sparks need special attention. Removing bird nests, mouse droppings, and other debris from machinery also helps lower fire risks.

Farmers should follow these equipment safety steps:

• Check and grease bearings and other moving parts to reduce friction and heat.
• Inspect fire extinguishers to make sure they are fully charged. Keep multiple extinguishers when possible and place them where they are easy to reach.
• Use a leaf blower to remove dust, chaff, and plant material several times during the day and again after work.
• Check for fuel leaks, damaged wires, and loose connections before operating machinery.

Regular cleaning and maintenance help farmers find problems before they cause a fire.

Safe Harvest Practices Reduce Fire Risks

Farmers often want to harvest as quickly as possible when crops are ready. However, safety should come first when weather and field conditions create a high risk of fire.

Lifting the combine header when crossing rocky areas can reduce the chance of sparks caused by contact with rocks. Farmers may also use a chain or cable dragged along the ground to reduce static electricity, but only when contact with rocks is unlikely to create sparks.

Vehicles with hot exhaust systems should stay away from tall, dry grass. Farmers should also consider delaying harvest when temperatures and winds are high and humidity is low. These conditions can allow fires to start more easily and spread quickly.

Prepare Fields for Fire Emergencies

Having firefighting tools nearby can help limit damage if a fire starts. Farmers should consider keeping a water tank in the field during harvest. A disc or plow attached to a tractor can also help create a break that slows the spread of fire.

Quick action can prevent a small fire from spreading across a large area. Farmers should plan how workers will respond to an emergency and make sure everyone knows where firefighting equipment is located.

Checking local weather alerts is another important step. High-wind and high-temperature warnings can help farmers decide when fieldwork may be unsafe.

Understand Insurance Coverage Before Harvest

Farmers should speak with their insurance agents before harvest begins to understand what their policies cover. Coverage for equipment, crops, and damage to nearby property can vary by policy.

Farm property insurance may cover damaged machinery if the equipment is listed and insured. However, many policies cover equipment at actual cash value rather than the cost of replacing it with new machinery.

Farm property insurance generally does not cover crops lost in a fire, and a combine fire is not an insurable cause of loss under crop insurance. Liability insurance may help protect farmers if a fire spreads to a neighbor's crop and leads to a legal claim.

Custom harvesting creates another risk. Farmers who harvest crops for others should understand their responsibility if their equipment starts a fire on a customer's land.

Some insurance companies offer hail insurance or Field Grain Fire Coverage that may provide payments for grain lost in an equipment fire. Availability and coverage terms vary, so farmers should review these options with their agents.

Five Steps to Manage Harvest Fire Risks

Farmers can prepare for harvest by taking these steps:

• Review their ability to pay for equipment repairs and crop losses after a fire.
• Discuss insurance policies and possible coverage gaps with an insurance agent.
• Inspect, clean, and maintain harvesting equipment regularly.
• Keep water, fire extinguishers, and suitable field equipment ready for emergencies.
• Monitor local weather alerts and avoid harvesting during dangerous conditions.

A clear fire prevention plan can help protect farmers, workers, machinery, and crops. Regular maintenance, careful field management, emergency preparation, and insurance reviews can reduce risks and help make harvest season safer.

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