The catastrophic spring flooding in Missouri soaked 650,000 bushels of surplus soybeans piled outside of Gavilon's grain elevator near Phelps City, MO, causing the crop to rot, reports Marketplace.
The heat generated by the decaying beans, mixed with the summer sun, made the pile spontaneously combust. It’s been burning since mid-July. Fire officials have decided the safest way to manage it is to just let it burn.
