On November 11, 1998, an atmospheric condition known as an inversion layer settled over the city of Regina and stayed there for more than 24 hours. The city was engulfed in smoke, making life difficult for those with breathing problems. As the number of hospital admissions climbed, so did public pressure for the government to "do something about all the smoke". It was assumed that the smoke was from burning straw in the fields surrounding Regina. In response to the public pressure, a Crop Residue Burning pilot project was set up in the Regina area in 1999. The project has been broadened to include the area around Yorkton in 2000.
While the Crop Residue Burning Project doesn't advocate burning, the committee members recognize that there are times and situations where an occasional burn may be the most reasonable and economical solution to a crop residue problem. The Committee, made up of representatives from Sask. Ag. & Food, Sask. Environment & Resource Management and Sask. Health, is trying to educate farmers about the best burning conditions. Jim Donovan, Extension Agrologist and member of the Committee for the Yorkton project said the project is designed to be educational. "The project is designed to show farmers when they can and when they should not burn their crop residues", he said. "In mid to late summer, we'll be sending out information packages to area farmers that discuss the advantages and disadvantages to straw burning. Near harvest, a toll free number will be made available for them to call to find out if the weather conditions are favourable for burning."
Weather conditions play a large role in how burning straw or stubble affects others. "Burning crop residues should be done only as a last resort for dealing with the straw. When a burn becomes necessary, farmers should wait until conditions will ensure the smoke rises rather than remaining close to the ground," Jim said. "If farmers learn to burn correctly, the health and safety issues surrounding burning will be diminished". Conditions that enable the smoke to rise include cloudy days when the clouds are very high. When burning occurs in the evenings, the smoke tends to move horizontally, close to the ground.
Until recently, farmers have been free to burn at their will. They could burn what they wanted, when they wanted. But with the public becoming increasingly conscious about health and environmental matters, there are several issues to consider before the match is struck and dropped in the windrow. The first is the health issue. Health agencies are concerned about the effect the smoke from burning crop residues can have on those with asthma and other breathing problems. Safety is also an issue. Thick smoke wafting across a highway or road is not safe for drivers. The surrounding environment is also an issue when burning occurs in a field. The public doesn't like to see potholes, sloughs and treed areas burning if the fire gets away. And finally, liability is an issue. Who is liable when a fire jumps the fire guard and burns the neighbour's field or yard? Not only does the field become susceptible to the forces of the wind and rain, any accumulated soil carbon is lost as well as nutrients contained in the straw and stubble.
The East Central Crop Residue Burning Pilot Project should be in operation for 2 or more years. During that period, area farmers will have the opportunity to learn more about the favourable conditions for burning that will reduce the amount of smoke hanging in the air. Farmers will also be able to take advantage of the toll free number that connects to Environment Canada. The recorded telephone message will provide daily wind dispersion information for the area and a forecast for the next 2 days.
For more information on the Crop Residue Burning Pilot Project, contact Jim Donovan, Extension Agrologist, Yorkton (786-1528); or Wayne Gosselin, Environmental Policy Coordinator, Sask. Ag. & Food, Regina (787-6586).