Where there's smoke...
... there's a burning field.
Yesterday, smoke flooded into much of Corvallis from burning fescue fields in Polk County. We awoke to smoke and briefly thought that there might be a local forest fire, because grass fields are only supposed to be burned when weather conditions dictate air flow is headed away from populated areas. The Gazette-Times confirmed this morning that this was indeed the case, but the wind shifted toward town after the fields were lit.
Burning fields is common in this part of Oregon, since it's an effective way to clear grass crop residue while leaving the root system intact and ensuring a solid grass seed yield. However, it's a nuisance and potential health problem for asthmatics and those with grass allergies (yours truly included). Oregon's current levels are a major improvement from 10 years ago, as only 40,000 acres can be burned each year -- a significant decrease from the peak of 250-300,000 acres annually burned until a phasedown that brought burning down to current levels in 1998. Yesterday's incident was remarkable precisely because it has become a rarity.
However, field burning in Oregon (and elsewhere) may soon be banned entirely. The Environmental Protection Agency is adopting tougher air quality standards based on evidence that smoky air leads to greater rates of death and illness. There are alternatives, mainly bundling up the grass residue and selling it as straw for livestock, but the farmers are still fighting for the right to burn.
As far as I'm concerned, if it comes down to a choice between allowing limited field burning and having farmers bring in more Monsanto genetically-modified Roundup-tolerant bentgrass, I'd opt for the field burning.
Yesterday, smoke flooded into much of Corvallis from burning fescue fields in Polk County. We awoke to smoke and briefly thought that there might be a local forest fire, because grass fields are only supposed to be burned when weather conditions dictate air flow is headed away from populated areas. The Gazette-Times confirmed this morning that this was indeed the case, but the wind shifted toward town after the fields were lit.
Burning fields is common in this part of Oregon, since it's an effective way to clear grass crop residue while leaving the root system intact and ensuring a solid grass seed yield. However, it's a nuisance and potential health problem for asthmatics and those with grass allergies (yours truly included). Oregon's current levels are a major improvement from 10 years ago, as only 40,000 acres can be burned each year -- a significant decrease from the peak of 250-300,000 acres annually burned until a phasedown that brought burning down to current levels in 1998. Yesterday's incident was remarkable precisely because it has become a rarity.
However, field burning in Oregon (and elsewhere) may soon be banned entirely. The Environmental Protection Agency is adopting tougher air quality standards based on evidence that smoky air leads to greater rates of death and illness. There are alternatives, mainly bundling up the grass residue and selling it as straw for livestock, but the farmers are still fighting for the right to burn.
As far as I'm concerned, if it comes down to a choice between allowing limited field burning and having farmers bring in more Monsanto genetically-modified Roundup-tolerant bentgrass, I'd opt for the field burning.
posted by Corvallist at
10:37 AM
6 Comments:
More field burning? You and Tim Smith will get along famously on this issue. According to his website, he attributes the lack of field burning to the appearance of mutated fish in the Willamette River. Do you think so?
Nah, it's probably the flouridation of our water sources which we all know is a communist plot.
By
Anonymous, at 6:50 PM
Well no, I don't advocate more field burning (and I'm all for fluoridation, whatever that has to do with the topic at hand). Given the two choices I listed, it would be the lesser of evils, but I'd rather see field burning stopped entirely. Apologies if that wasn't clear.
By
Corvallist, at 9:31 PM
I called the Fire Dept, thinking it was a forest as well. they sounded like they had answered that question about 10 times that hour.
It was awful. I mean, it smelled semi-pleasant, but still, they need to outlaw that crap.
By
crallspace, at 10:24 AM
i lived in cottage grove when the fatal crash on the 5 south of albany occurred and i believe it was the impetus (even drove over the blackened site later that day on the way to pdx to pickup my parents) of curtailing much of the burning or at least changing how it's done. i believe any changes or further bans will require another tragedy. as time passes, people will forget that the smoke killed people on another- wise sunny day
By
Anonymous, at 5:39 PM
I was flying over the city when the field burning started and the wind was from the South at 5-8 knots for a majority of the time. All the smoke was going up to 500-1000 feet then blowing south, then the wind did shift towards the city. Totally predicting the wind is impossible and when you live in the country away from the big city this happens. When driving home from the Airport, I just turned on the AC to MAX, no big deal, then a half-hour later it was over. For those with breathing issues, I would think that closing your doors and windows would be in order. I would also assume with such breathing difficulties you would also have an AC unit with a nice air filter. Just seems to me that people are complaining just to hear themselves complain. Leave the dang farmers alone, they have enough government hassles, they don't need anymore!
By
Anonymous, at 9:24 AM
Field burning is a great way for farmers to create a lot less work for themselves. It is also good for native grasses in the area that need that to burn to come back the next year. Unfortunately, night burning has stopped. This was nice, as you can see through the smoke at night. By moving it to day, the visibility has become a major issue. On top of that, farmers must pay $10 per acre they want to burn, and they usually only have 30 minutes from the time of the “ok” from the government to have their designated field up in smoke. From my understanding, before we all moved into this area, the Indians would set the valley on fire every year. So, yes, feel sorry that farmers are deprived of a great natural thing that benefits them greatly, because the government has stepped in. I do sympathize for people with allergies, and for people who have lots love ones because of it. But really, this isn’t a matter of more regulation; it is a matter of being wise about it and doing it in a way that is beneficial, efficient, and safe.
By
Jenny, at 9:58 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home