Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – With harvest season fully underway across Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture reminds row crop producers to follow voluntary smoke management guidelines and comply with all state burning requirements.
This year’s exceptionally dry weather has accelerated harvests, and drought conditions affect every county. County judges have issued burn bans throughout most of the state. As a result, crop residue will be ready to burn earlier and, in more locations, than a typical year.
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Burning crop residue remains an important and efficient tool for managing stubble, pests, and diseases in row crop production. Producers are urged to plan carefully and follow both the voluntary guidelines and all legal requirements to reduce risk.
Key recommendations for safe and responsible crop burning include:
Check Burn Ban Status:
Check your county’s burn ban status before burning. Burn bans can change rapidly in dry conditions, and producers should use the statewide fire map to stay updated.
Understand Harvest Exceptions:
Arkansas law allows landowners to burn crop residue during a burn ban only if adequate disking of field perimeters, or other safety measures required by the county burn ban officer, have been completed. Failure to meet these conditions may result in liability for damages.
Notify Authorities:
Producers must contact the sheriff’s office in advance with the approximate start time and location of any burn alongside a state, federal, or interstate highway. This requirement applies regardless of whether smoke ultimately reaches the roadway.
Post Warnings:
Post flaggers or “SMOKE AHEAD” signs if smoke obstructs a highway. Signs must be placed in plain view on both sides of the road, and flaggers must remain visible and equipped with a flag, flare, flashlight, or other warning device.
Monitor Fires:
Allowing a fire to escape constitutes unlawful burning under Arkansas law. Escaping to adjoining timber, brush, or grassland is considered evidence that necessary precautions were not taken. Fires that create a substantial risk of death or serious injury may result in criminal prosecution.
Report Burns Using FireSMART:
The FireSMART tool helps producers check real-time weather conditions against voluntary smoke management guidelines and submit required burn information quickly and easily.
For more information, producers can view the Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines on the Department’s website.
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