With the 2018 summer harvest underway, the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA), Griffith City Council, Leeton Shire Council, the Irrigation Research and Extension Committee and Murrumbidgee Irrigation remind farmers who are planning to burn stubble, to do so responsibly.
At the RGA Central Executive meeting held in Jerilderie, September 2017 a motion supporting no-burn days for the Easter and Anzac day public holidays and long weekends was passed. The RGA encourages all growers to seriously consider not burning stubble during the Anzac Day holiday this Wednesday 25th of April. We need to support our regional communities and ensure that all that participate in the range of planned community activities on ANZAC Day do so under the best possible conditions.
RGA Environmental Projects Manager Neil Bull said it was important to take all possible steps to minimise the adverse effects of smoke on neighbours and neighbouring townships.
“Farmers are preparing for the planting of winter crops and many will be burning stubble. We ask them to reduce the effects on those living nearby. Growers are asked to be mindful of the impacts that smoke can have on nearby communities and only burn when conditions are appropriate.”
“Growers should plan their burning strategy to avoid inappropriate conditions. Monitor prevailing weather conditions and avoid burning late in the day or when there is no wind, as this is when inversion layers are most likely to be present.”
“The Bureau of Meteorology website has a mixing height tool to help growers plan stubble burns. Click on the MetEye link to use the tool to get a forecast for burning conditions and wind speed and direction over the next few days at your location.”
“For more information about this tool and alternatives to burning growers should refer to the Responsible Stubble Management fact sheet on the RGA website.”