Field burning bill may delay cutoff date
Friday, April 24, 2009 12:51 PM PDT
SALEM (AP) — Oregon lawmakers have proposed delaying the cutoff date in a bill to stop Willamette Valley grass seed growers from burning their fields, but farmers say the Legislature still is headed in the wrong direction.
A bill in the Senate would prohibit the longstanding practice of burning to clear fields of stubble, disease and pests, starting this year.
The smoke and particulates have long raised objections in the valley about dangers to human health.
Farmers have resisted limits on a practice they say is important to the valley’s grass seed business.
‘‘We have a significant health problem, for which our solution has been endorsed by numerous health organizations,’’ said Sen. Floyd Prozanski of Eugene. ‘‘But I also understand transitioning, for some of these individuals, is difficult to do.’’
Instead, he said, an amendment would reduce open burning of fields this year from 40,000 acres to 20,000 acres and end it in 2010.
Stack and pile burning, and propane flaming would be phased out, by 2013.
‘‘It’s a ban, and a ban is a ban,’’ said Roger Beyer, executive director of the the Oregon Seed Council, which lobbies for grass seed farmers.
He likened the proposed amendments to a delayed execution.
The seed council has proposed an alternative that doesn’t reduce open field burning, requires growers to register with their county board before burning so neighbors have notice, and raises burning fees to put more money into research.
