Grains Research and Development Corporation's Southern Regional Panel chairman Keith Pengilley said that a spate of harvester fires in recent years, combined with a dry, early finish to the 2015 cropping season, had heightened concerns about the potential fire risk this year.

"The panel is urging growers and harvester operators to follow current industry best practice guidelines," he said.

"(We are) concerned about the higher-than-average number of fires that have occurred during harvest in South Australia and to a lesser extent Victoria over the past few years.

"A number of these fires have started in pulse crops, particularly lentils, so extra precautions should be taken when preparing to harvest these crops.

"However, machinery failure is in many cases responsible for fires starting, so it is critical that growers undertake harvester operation checks and regular maintenance leading up to and throughout harvest in an effort to reduce the risk of fire."

To assist growers with their fire prevention strategies, the corporation has published the Reducing Harvester Fire Risk Back Pocket Guide, which is available online