Farmers warned to check for nests to avoid fires

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Federated Farmers has warned farmers to check their machinery for starling nests to avoid tractor fires this summer.

Starlings like to build their nests in dry areas, and their favourite spot is in tractor engines, Federated Farmers' rural fire spokesman Anders Crofoot said.

With the nesting season being around this time of year, now is a good time to be vigilant, Mr Crofoot said in a statement.

"This is a safety issue as well as costly to farmers and it can be avoided by simply popping your hood to check for nests before starting the engine, and keeping a fire extinguisher on board," he said.

FMG - a farmer owned insurance group - has been running a "Stop and Pop" campaign which, over the last three years, has helped reduce its tractor fire claims by 40 per cent.

"Farm owners also need to make sure their staff are aware of the risks and preventative methods also; it only takes a starling 18 minutes to build a nest so it pays to check each time you use the vehicle," Crofoot said.