Pilot program shows thermal imaging benefits on New York farms

Fire is one of the leading cause for property losses on farms around the country. In many cases, those fires are caused by undetected heat from inside farm buildings, machinery and equipment.

Fortunately, there are new tools that can help farmers be proactive and prevent fires at their sources. New York Farm Bureau (NYFB), with support from Nationwide, implemented a thermal imaging pilot program to its members, focused on education through hands-on testing opportunities. Thermal imaging cameras can equip farmers with powerful fire prevention capabilities.

About the NYFB thermal imaging pilot program

The pilot program kicked off at a large central New York dairy farm in July 2024, where NYFB state leaders, county managers, members and the hosting farm owners worked with the Teledyne FLIR team and the Nationwide Risk Management team to test thermal imaging cameras. The high-tech tools visually identify excessive heat in structures and components common on most farms. The group tested common heat and fire sources including

• Wiring connections
• Motor bearings
• Electrical panels
• Belts and pulleys
• Gear boxes

“We walked the farm with our cameras and learned how to read them to detect hot spots in electrical motors and connections, feed piles and silos. We even tried to identify heat in the leg of a lame animal,” said NYFB Director of Member Advocacy & Insurance Partner Relations Scott Keyes. “Staff quickly became comfortable with the cameras. We immediately identified one significant hot spot on an electrical service panel. Without the camera, we may not have discovered that hot spot until it was too late. It was amazing to see that the first time we used the camera on a farm, we identified a potential disaster in the making.”

After the hands-on farm experience, the NYFB county managers set out to spread awareness of thermal imaging capabilities to their local farmers. Through a “borrowing” system, each county leader is providing a camera to interested farmers for a two-week period to test out its capabilities. Once the borrowing time is complete, the farmer returns the camera and completes a short survey.

Early detection for a range of potential farm fire sources

Since July 2024, the cameras have been tested on over 40 New York farms. Through those testing experiences, the pilot program has revealed other potential heightened fire hazards on those farms, including:

• A loose wire in a main electrical panel
• A hot fuse in a panel in a dairy facility
• A coil malfunction on a freezer unit
• A hot bearing in the rear end of a loader
• Bad bearings in a produce-sorting machine
• Previously undetected small leaks and weak spots in an irrigation system

Fire detection pilot program results and next steps

In all, 42% of farmers who tested thermal imaging cameras identified concerns that called for a second opinion or repairs, and 95% told NYFB they see value in using thermal imaging cameras from Teledyne FLIR on their farms.

“These farms were all able to identify previously unknown issues. Now, they have the information they need to take action,” Keyes said. “Farmers who didn't find issues have peace of mind know that all is okay.”

The NYFB thermal imaging pilot program is ongoing. New York farmers will continue collecting data and observations about additional benefits of thermal imaging on their farms.

“We are excited to hear more success stories about how this innovative tool can help our farmers in their risk management practices,” Keyes said.

To participate in the program or learn more, contact your New York Farm Bureau county manager.

See more about Teledyne FLIR thermal imaging cameras and how they work. Nationwide customers receive a 15% discount on Teledyne FLIR systems. Learn more by calling 800-260-1356 or emailing RMSolutions@nationwide.com.