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Dry weather sparks harvest fires in MO

Persistent drought conditions and high winds are creating dangerous harvest conditions for Missouri farmers. Glasgow, Missouri farmer Robert Schmidt says there were several combine fires across the state over the weekend, including one near his farm. “The farmer was able to get out some of the crops from the 800 acres that burned. The fire put itself out with the help of the fire department containing it to a wetland area.” Schmidt tells Brownfield due to the persistent drought conditions he’s taking extra-precautions harvesting his final 200 acres of seed soybeans. “We use a leaf blower to keep the engine compartment clean. It doesn’t take but one leaf touching the exhaust for something to ignite and catch the whole field on fire.” There’s rain in the forecast for Missouri. University of Missouri Extension State Climatologist Pat Guinan says while it isn’t going to be a drought breaker, it’s a start. “The best thing we can get is many hours of steady rainfall to soak into the soil profile.” According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, all of Missouri is categorized as abnormally dry to exceptional drought, with 14 percent in extreme to exceptional drought.