EN 
PT_BR 
With the arrival of the dry season and the progress of the corn harvest in Mato Grosso, the Mato Grosso Agriculture and Livestock Federation System (Sistema Famato) is alerting rural producers to the increased risk of fires. The combination of low air humidity, high temperatures, and a large volume of straw in the field requires extra attention, especially regarding the preventive maintenance of harvesters, tractors, and other agricultural machinery.
Famato also advises producers to frequently clean their equipment to prevent the accumulation of dust, straw, and debris near heat-generating components, as well as to check electrical systems, bearings, belts, and for possible oil or fuel leaks. Adopting these measures helps reduce risks, protect lives, preserve assets, and avoid losses during the harvest season.
Reinforcing that, from July 1st to November 30th, the use of fire for cleaning and managing rural areas is strictly prohibited by order of environmental agencies, Famato's Environmental Analyst, Tania Arévalo, emphasizes that a team prepared to prevent and combat fires is essential for efficient management during the dry season.
“It’s important that, in addition to keeping the firebreaks clean, the producer also trains the people who work on the farm, especially for emergency situations. This is fundamental so that they have a team already prepared in case something happens, as well as keeping equipment available for these situations,” explains Tania.
This equipment includes fire extinguishers, a water truck, hoes, sickles, rakes, shovels, a first-aid kit, and everything else available to contain the start of a fire, preventing serious economic and environmental losses, as well as damage to soil fertility and biodiversity.
“The Mato Grosso Military Fire Department (CBMMT) reports that major fires currently occur in non-producing areas because producers are already taking precautions. They are aware of the losses that fire can cause, especially to the soil. We know that producers do their homework very well because they understand that fire represents damage to their property,” Tania points out.
Failure to comply with the rules during the prohibited period will subject the offender to fines and administrative sanctions. If the mandatory preventive measures stipulated in the new resolution are not followed, the owner will receive a notification and will have 30 days to rectify the outstanding issues.
Famato has also made available a Technical Bulletin with detailed guidelines on fire prevention and control on rural properties during the dry season. The material includes recommendations on machine maintenance, preventive measures, current legislation, and best practices to reduce risks in the field. The full content can be accessed by clicking here.
