WINNIPEG — Harvest has barely started in the province, but Manitoba Agriculture has already been dousing fiery complaints from the public about farmers burning stubble.
A smoky haze hanging over the southern part of the province in early August prompted several calls to the provincial government complaining about farmers.
The smoke was coming from forest fires in the north.
Manitoba Agriculture issued a press release explaining farmers hadn’t harvested their fields so no agricultural burning was yet taking place.
Department spokesperson Dale Partridge said the public reaction was understandable because of the problems created by agricultural smoke in recent years. “Usually when it was around, it was our fault.”
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Over the past several years, the smoke has been blamed for several car accidents. Then two years ago, smoke generated by agricultural burning choked the city of Winnipeg for days at a time, causing people with respiratory problems to be hospitalized.
No night burning
The government implemented regulations which prohibit night burning and restrict farmers from burning when weather conditions are conducive to a smoke haze. Between Aug. 1 and Nov. 15, farmers are given daily updates of where and when they can burn according to wind and weather conditions.
Last year, the first year the program was in operation, 58 farmers received tickets for failing to comply with the regulations; in most cases, a conviction with a $1,000 fine plus $320 in costs.
Partridge said he hopes to see that number drop this year, as farmers become more familiar with the new rules.
