[AGRICULTURAL BURNING]
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What is "agricultural burning and how is it different from other types of burning?
Agricultural burning is one of three kinds of outdoor
burning. Outdoor burning also includes silvicultural (forest land) burning, and "open burning" -- any other kind of burning outdoors in the open or in containers. As a farm management
tool, an estimated 3, 000 to 5,000 agricultural fires are set each year in Washington, with up to 600,000 acres thought to be burned. Studies show that air quality levels can exceed
federal health standards in areas affected by outdoor burning, especially from larger fires, or when dispersion of smoke by the wind is poor.
The Washington Clean Air Act (RCW 70.94) protects air quality in the state. Specifically, RCW 70.94.650 and .745 requires agricultural permits for commercial agricultural operations that burn natural vegetation as a farm management tool. The law also requires that the grower show the burning is reasonably necessary to carry out the enterprise. Agricultural burning meeting the criteria of the best management practices (identified by the agricultural burning practices and research task force) and where no practical alternative exists automatically satisfies this requirement. For further information, also see WAC 173-430, the agricultural burning regulation.
Other forms of outdoor burning, such as that which is done at residences within the urban areas are considered to be waste-disposal, not as a management tool. This is primarily why many forms of outdoor burning are being phased out over time.
