Lung Association Snubs Grass Farmers
Saying grass smoke causes sickness and death, the American Lung Association of Washington said Wednesday that it will not sign an agreement to ease regulations for field burning by Spokane County and North Idaho bluegrass farmers.
The voluntary agreement, which industry and citizen’s groups must sign by the end of Friday to be effective this summer, would replace a strict government regulation that was repealed earlier this year.
However, grass farmers said that even without the agreement they will comply with a plan forwarded by the Inland Northwest Field Burning Summit to burn during a 47-day window that excludes Labor Day, Fridays and weekends beginning Aug. 15.
“We’re going to be able to run a clean air program this year, rather than being smashed into a tight window,” said Martha Daily, spokeswoman for the Intermountain Grass Growers Association.
Yvonne Bucklin, regional director of the lung association in Spokane, a powerful voice for clean-air advocates, said the agreement does not protect respiratory sufferers and others from the harmful effects of smoke.
Spokane County farmers, who were restricted to 16 consecutive burn days last year, will have 26 possible days to burn in 1995.
“It’s the most dangerous kind of smoke,” Bucklin said. “Grass smoke released in intense quantities all at one time is good reason for alarm. It’s a known health hazard.”
The IGGA counters that there is no evidence showing a correlation between grass smoke and health problems. They cite Environmental Protection Agency reports that say 80 percent of visible grass smoke is steam and the rest is harmless, organic particles.
Farmers burn their fields after harvest to remove straw, weeds and disease, helping the plants to yield a greater crop of lawn seed the following year. Farmers say they could not grow a profitable crop without field burning.
Idaho farmers reached a different agreement supported by clean-air advocates in the Panhandle to burn a maximum of 16 days during a 45-day window.
, DataTimes