Manitoba producers wanting to burn crop residue will require authorization until November 15.
Restrictions on burning authorizations went into effect earlier this week, requiring producers to check a daily authorization notice to indicate where burning is permitted and at what times. Depending on conditions, burning may not be authorized for the entire province.
"The reason for these regulations to be in effect is to prevent any health issues relating from smoke issues when we have (weather) conditions where smoke does not disperse," says Manitoba Agriculture soil suitability specialist Brian Wilson, adding the crop residue burning program started about 25 years as a result of air quality issues.
"We had conditions happen at that time where smoke was just not dispersing, and it meant there was a lot of smoke that was in the air, and it actually became a health hazard."
The daily authorizations are issued by 11 a.m., but Wilson says there are 10 municipalities surrounding the city of Winnipeg that are required to obtain a permit before burning at any time. This includes the rural municipalities of Rosser, Headingley, St. François Xavier, Cartier, Macdonald, Ritchot, Taché, Springfield, East St. Paul and West St. Paul.
In addition, burning crop residue at night is banned year-round.
Source : Portageonline