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A tract of Amazon jungle burns as it is cleared by farmers at Rio Pardo in Brazil’s Rondonia state on Sept. 15, 2019. (File photo: Reuters/Ricardo Moraes)

Brazil tells landowners to stop setting fires in Amazon ‘climate emergency’

Properties could be embargoed, agency says

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Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazil’s government told ranchers and farmers on Friday to stop setting fire to the Amazon rainforest as clouds of dense gray smoke make the air increasingly unbreathable in the northern city of Manaus, threatening sanctions if they do burn areas of land. “Fire is not natural in the Amazon, it […] Read more
Vince in his corn field where the July incident took place. Crop damage from the fire, and from water truck traffic, is visible.
News

Series of field fires suggest possible arson

Merlin-area farmer Blake Vince has experienced three fires in the same area since April

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The first fire of 2023 happened in mid-April. The second and third occurred over the Victoria Day and Canada Day long weekends. Merlin-area grain farmer Blake Vince first thought it was happenstance, then coincidence. Now he wonders if a bad actor has been putting flame to his residue-heavy fields. If his concerns are true, he […] Read more
A climate change activist plays a violin in New York City’s Times Square as Manhattan is shrouded in haze and smoke which drifted south from wildfires in Canada, on June 7, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Maye-E Wong)

Climate change made Quebec wildfires twice as likely, scientists say

Early snow disappearance led to earlier fires

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London | Reuters — The fires that tore through the province of Quebec between May and July were made at least twice as likely by climate change, scientists said on Tuesday. Climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, also made the fires as much as 50 per cent more intense, according to the […] Read more
Producers should be aware of heat levels and use a thermometer rather than a hay moisture probe to check temperatures. A sweet smell or musty odour are signs that hay should be checked.
Crops, News

Forage fires an increased risk this harvest season

Forage specialist urges producers to be on alert

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Hay and forage fires are a significant risk on farms throughout Ontario so prevention strategies are important. Many regions of the province had a particularly dry May, increasing vulnerability to fire. Why it matters: Dry conditions have increased fire risk, particularly for forages. Fires can start when heat builds up in high-moisture material, causing spontaneous […] Read more
A climate change activist plays a violin in New York City’s Times Square as Manhattan is shrouded in haze and smoke which drifted south from wildfires in Canada, on June 7, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Maye-E Wong)

International help rolls in to fight unyielding Canadian wildfires

Almost 80 of Quebec's fires currently out of control

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Ottawa | Reuters — Allies around the world are promising to boost support for Canada’s fight against hundreds of blazes amid the country’s worst-ever start to wildfire season, which is fueling concerns about the worsening consequences of climate change. Forest fires continued to burn across Canada on Thursday, forcing thousands of people from their homes […] Read more
Members of the Third Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (3PPCLI) take part in wildfire prevention operations near Grande Prairie, Alta. on May 12, 2023. (Photo: MCpl, Cass Moon/Canadian Forces/Handout via Reuters)
Livestock

Air quality deteriorates as wildfires rage in Western Canada

Evacuations continue in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan

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Reuters — Calgary received a special weather alert on Tuesday, warning residents of poor air quality and reduced visibility as tinder-dry weather and shifting winds elevated the risk of spreading wildfires in Alberta’s north and west. As of Tuesday evening 89 wildfires are active in Alberta, with 25 out of control, according to the provincial […] Read more
A smoke column rises from a wildfire on May 4, 2023 near Lodgepole, Alta., about 30 km southwest of Drayton Valley. (Photo: Alberta Wildfire handout via Reuters)
Livestock

Alberta wildfire fighters prepare for hot, dry days ahead

Temperatures to approach 30 C next week

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Reuters — An extended period of hot, dry weather that risks worsening wildfires in Alberta began on Friday, with special weather alerts in place across Western Canada and officials urging people to be vigilant. More than 100 wildfires have ignited across Alberta since last week, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate homes, farms […] Read more
Smoke rises from a wildfire near Wildwood, Alta., about 100 km west of Edmonton, on May 5, 2023. (Photo: Alberta Wildfire/Handout via Reuters)
Livestock

Alberta ‘crossing fingers’ for rain amid wildfires

CN mainline traffic west of Edmonton suspended

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Reuters — Firefighters were counting on rain and cooler weather forecast for Monday to help them quell a dramatic start to Alberta’s wildfire season. The province declared a state of emergency on Saturday in response to wildfires in northern and central regions that have displaced nearly 30,000 people and prompted energy producers to shut in […] Read more
This nighttime photo shows the frustrating futility of fighting a dryer fire from the outside, and the danger to human safety.
Crops, News

Will your grain dryer become a grain fryer?

Eighty per cent of fires caused by trash buildup and can be avoided

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Glacier FarmMedia – Fall is busy for grain dryers, especially if the harvest window is short and tough grain needs quick attention. Storing tough grain that hasn’t received proper attention is a good way to waste money, according to GSI dryer specialist Randy Sheley. He says there are two ways your money goes up the […] Read more
The hot underside of vehicles is a ready source of ignition for wheat field fires because of the short clearance between stubble and vehicle.
Machinery, News

Avoiding, preparing for and reacting to harvest fires

Tips on what to do if a fire happens, and how to prevent it

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Field fires can happen in any crop and at any time but tend to be more prevalent in mid-summer during cereal harvest. With wheat harvest in the province fast approaching, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with how to prevent a field fire, and what to do if one occurs.  Why it matters: A […] Read more

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