Stubble burning is an important tool for rice growers, but smoke can affect your local community. Responsible stubble management is the key to maintain your right to burn. The Ricegrowers Association (RGA) advises all farmers to implement best practice when burning stubble to avoid smoke impacts on nearby towns, neighbouring dwellings or roads.
The RGA have developed 'The Stubble Burning App' to assist growers to plan and manage stubble burns. It has been specifically designed for use during the autumn months when the mixing height (inversion layer) can drop to levels that prevents smoke from dispersing into the atmosphere. The weather data provided is generated for your location by computer models so it is important to check the in-paddock conditions before and during your burn.
As this is version 1 of the App we want to learn from grower’s feedback on how to make improvements. We will also be monitoring our mixing height and time of day to burn recommendations as these may need to be revised.
From initial use of the App we recommend a mixing height above 1500 metres from the time the fire is lit and for 2 hours after the completion of the burn. If the mixing height is for forecast to drop below 1500 metres in the 2 hour period after the completion of your burn stubble smoke is likely to be pushed down close to ground level and remain there overnight.
The App is designed for smart phones and tablets. It is available on both the Apple and Google Play stores and can be downloaded using the following links:
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.SquareV.StubbleBurning
Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/stubble-burning/id1534975240