Most Saskatchewan farmers don’t burn crop residue, unless they grow flax, and they don’t plan to change.
A survey conducted in March by Arcas Strategic Marketing Group for the province’s agriculture ministry found that 73 percent of cereal farmers usually chop and spread straw. Another 23 percent bale it.
Just one in five farmers grows flax, but 64 percent of those growers burn the straw.
Almost all of the 408 respondents – 95 percent – said they didn’t plan to change practices.
The survey was conducted to understand farmers’ attitudes, perceptions and environmental awareness of burning.
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A spokesperson for agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said he is not contemplating regulatory changes as a result of the survey.
Bill Henley, manager of environmental programs in the ministry’s policy branch, said the survey follows a similar one done about eight years ago.
“At that time there certainly was concern,” he said. “There was a fair amount of burning going on.”
Residents in the Yorkton and Regina areas in particular were concerned about the amount of smoke within the cities.
Flax straw is usually the culprit because it doesn’t break down as easily as other straws.
While a significant number of producers still burn flax straw, Henley noted that is changing.
“At one time, only 12 percent didn’t burn it. Today, it’s 36 percent who don’t burn.”
He attributes the change to research and development efforts in the flax fibre industry.
Henley also said there have been changes in the way farmers burn. Years ago, no one burned straw if it was windy.
Today, more farmers wait for some wind so that the smoke disperses more quickly.
The survey also found that 70 percent of farmers agreed the government should limit burning according to weather conditions.
On the other hand, 62 percent said the government didn’t need to take action because farmers are managing.
The telephone survey has a margin of error plus or minus 4.8 percent at 95 percent confidence.
