AFTER the devastating Pinery fire and large stubble loads this season, a group of Mallee farmers decided to take fire prevention into their own hands by instigating a local text messaging service.
Pinnaroo cropper Wade Nickolls said they had seen the concept in other graingrowing regions.
“We were also worried the government would one day legislate on when we could and couldn’t harvest.
“So we decided to get on the front foot and set our own standards.”
To gauge farmer interest, a meeting was held at Pinnaroo in early November, which included members of the local Country Fire Service.
Mr Nickolls said most farmers within the Pinnaroo district attended, as well as some from nearby Parilla and Murrayville, Vic.
“Many farmers realised the urgency of such a service after Pinery – we couldn’t ignore the fact that thick crops in summer are very dangerous,” he said.
“There was some resistance, as some farmers didn’t like the idea of being told how to run their business, but most were receptive.
“At the end of the day, an extra few box-fulls sometimes isn’t worth the risk, not to yourself, but also to those fighting your fire with you.
“And while CFS involvement has been vital, when an initiative like this is farmer-driven, it works better.
“The more people that are on the same page, the less the risk some may take to bend the rules.”
Four ‘area captains’ were chosen at the meeting to manage the messages on their “side of town”.
“They would then discuss among each other, after assessing local weather readings, and with the CFS captain as to when the time was right to send a fire message out,” Mr Nickolls said.
About 70 farmers are connected to the text messaging service.
Messages include fire ban advice, warnings to consider stopping harvest when the fire danger index was too high or if there was a fire in the area.
“The service proved very effective just before the new year when lightning started about six fires in the area,” Mr Nickolls said.
“We put the message out and were amazed at how many people rolled up with their farm firefighting units.
“It helped to get the fires under control quicker.”
CFS Pinnaroo captain David Lloyde said the initiative was positive as it raised awareness about the harvesting code of practice.
“Once farmers get into their air-conditioned cabs, sometimes they have no idea what’s the outside temperature is,” he said. “So instead of being like WA farmers, who can be forced to cease operation on a fire ban day, we thought this may avoid that.
“We don’t demand people stop harvesting, but at least it encourages them to get out of the cab and assess the risk properly for themselves.”
Mr Lloyde also commended the AWB GrainFlow site at Pinnaroo, who assisted in messaging farmers as well.
“The community response has been fantastic,” he said.