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Hot, hot, hot!

© Robin Blackburn Jerkins

School may be starting soon on the calendar, but weatherwise, we're still in the throes of summer. And for many agribusinesses, that means two things: drought and wildfires.

Hopefully, none of you will ever be affected by a serious drought or wildfire. But if you are, it's good to be prepared. That's why this month I looked up some articles and Web sites about droughts and wildfires.

For those of you who are more academic, there's Texas A&M University's Texas Drought Management Strategies , a paper which gives information on the impact droughts have on various aspects of agriculture.

For those of you needing help getting through a drought, there's Farm Service Agency's Disaster Assistance Page. This page will give you information on any assistance you may qualify for during periods of drought.

For those of you concerned about fire, FEMA has some tips on dealing with wildland fires. The National Interagency Fire Center also offers information about wildland fires, as well as a map showing at-risk areas of the United States.

I can't emphasize enough the need for cooperation with your local fire authorities during times when there's little or no rain. Before carrying out a controlled burn on your land, check with your local fire marshal and make sure there's not a burn ban on. If you are under a burn ban, obey it. You may save yourself a lot of grief.

Until next month, may the heavens open up just enough to keep the ground from cracking any further.