Jefferson County Smoke Management Program

The Jefferson County Smoke Management Program is a cooperative effort of Jefferson County Seed Growers and the Jefferson County Rural Fire Protection District, committed to a safe, controlled agricultural field burning season that insures public safety and minimizes, to the greatest degree possible, impacts of smoke on the communities of Central Oregon.

History

Central Oregon has been known for the production of high quality seeds since the late 1940’s, shortly after the completion of North Unit Irrigation District.  Ladino clover was produced early on, then other legumes such as red clover, then bluegrass seed.

Since the early 1950’s, bluegrass seed has been one of the major crops produced in this area.  Twelve thousand acres of bluegrass were produced in 1988.  These acres produced 10 million dollars worth of quality grass seeds.

Ten million dollars of farm gate sales in 1988 translates into nearly a 30 million dollar economic impact to Central Oregon and greater Oregon families and merchants.  This creates hundreds of jobs in production, processing, marketing, and transportation of this product.

 Why we burn fields

Field burning has been a cultural practice employed by producers since the very start of the industry.  Farmers learned early on that yields decrease dramatically without burning.  Insect control, disease control, and a stimulation of the seed production nature of the grass plant help to maintain yields and result in improved quality of the seed.  Field burning is a necessary management tool for Central Oregon seed growers to continue in a viable position in the seed industry.  Seed growers would prefer not to burn grass seed fields.  To date, there is no alternative.

 Smoke Management  

Since 1981, the Jefferson County Seed Growers Association has conducted a voluntary Smoke Management Program to minimize smoke impacts to area citizens.  Seed growers don’t just burn any old time they want to! 

  Up through 1988, the voluntary program eliminated the haphazard burning which was prevalent during the early days of seed production.

 A traffic control program started in 1980 by the seed growers has coordinated burning along roadways with patrol cars ready to stop traffic when dangerous situations suddenly arise.  Since this road program started, no accident has occurred when growers request this assistance.  

Starting in 1989, a mandatory Smoke Management Program began to gain even better compliance with smoke management.  Full-time monitoring is done to closely follow the progress of each day’s burn.Other sources of smoke cause the vast majority of smoke related problems in Central Oregon .  Documentation of each days’ burning can separate field burning from other sources of smoke frequently occurring at that time of year.

The Jefferson County Seed Growers Association is committed to operate the best possible Smoke Management Program.  They assess themselves two dollars per stubble acre for open burning to fund operation of the program, and for research to try to find alternative solutions to field burning.