State farmers urged by DNR to take fire precautions

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is warning farmers across the state to take precautions as they begin the fall harvest of their crops because the dry conditions could present fire hazards, reports the Pioneer Press.

The DNR says fires can be sparked by equipment in dry fields, so they urge farmers to prep their machinery to avoid overheating and sparks.

The recommendation comes as the latest U.S. Drought Monitor’s map released indicates that 84 percent of Minnesota is abnormally dry.

The percentage is up considerably from late August, when the U.S. Drought Monitor said 52 percent of the state was abnormally dry.