February, 2020
Page 10
SARDA News
What to do when Burning Residual Crop
T
he fall of 2019 has been dubbed the “fall from hell�. A large amount of crop remains unharvested which will mean additional spring workloads for producers in a very short seeding season. Not only do producers need to deal with the crops in the field, in many situations, fertilizers that are normally added in the fall, need to be added in the spring. At this time, it is unknown if the crop, when harvested will be saleable. The quality of the grain is in question and it may be contaminated with the feces of wild life and rodents. The residual crops and its straw on the land can become a liability to producers and it may be that burning that residue begins to look favorable. Producers are very aware of the many downsides of burning. Not only do producers lose the benefits of the nutrients in the residue, they also lose the protection of crop residues provided to the soil. They open themselves up to risks of uncontrolled fires, which can endanger life and property. Smoke from burning causes visibility issues and health risks. The resulting bare soil is much more susceptible to erosion from wind, water and tillage. Compaction issues and crusting when establishing
new crops also become more of an issue when soil fiber is reduced as in the case of burning. Producers commonly have one eye trained on the sky, watching the weather and hoping for favourable conditions. This spring, things will be no different, however the importance of good weather may be more important than ever. Most producers intend to harvest the crops left out over the winter. But if the spring is late and the weather’s uncooperative, burning the crop to clear the land may become a reasonable option. If a producer cannot prepare the land and seed the new crop in a timely fashion, the harvest of that same crop, may once again be late which leaves it at a much greater risk of being poor quality and left out overwinter. Many municipalities have restrictions on burning, and it may be that you will require a permit. Even if you think a permit is not required, it is advisable to contact your local municipality and fire department. Both entities will have some suggestions to reduce the risk of the fire becoming out of control, such as preparing fire guards and having fire containment supplies on hand. Public
