07/12/05 Ag director okays field burning this year

Idaho State Department of Agriculture Director Pat Takasugi has cleared the way for carefully-managed field burning to continue this summer. Under Idaho law, the director must determine whether there is an economically viable alternative to burning that would allow growers to still dispose of residue, increase yields and control diseases, weeds and insects. Sherm Takatori heads up the smoke management team for the state and he's preparing for the start of bluegrass field burning in ten north Idaho counties. TAKATORI "Growers that want to burn this year will need to register their fields with the Department of Ag and also pay the two dollar per acre fee and send those registration fees into Boise." Growers south of Idaho County who want to burn don't have to pay a fee but they still must register with the state. TAKATORI "Our statute provides for some protection against nuisance and trespass lawsuits and registering your fields is a way to be in compliance with the statute." Eight department employees in north Idaho monitor the field burning program and that doesn't count another dozen or so people working with three Indian tribes and the state Division of Environmental Quality. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott