With another hot, dry harvest season upon us, fire safety is once again becoming a major consideration for farming businesses.
In previous years, later harvests and more frequent August rainfall often reduced the risk of large-scale fires. However, increasingly hot and dry summers over the last five years have changed that picture considerably.
Having recently spent two weeks harvesting in central France, I saw first-hand the extensive fire prevention measures being adopted by French farming businesses during periods of extreme heat. The experience prompted me to reflect on the increasing fire risk facing UK agriculture and the importance of taking practical steps to reduce that risk.