Farmers Urged To Burn Stubble Responsibly

As we embrace the transition into autumn, Griffith City Council urges rice growers to exercise caution and mindfulness when burning stubble to prepare for the new season.

Rice farmers were urged to consider not burning stubble on weekends and on ANZAC Day, allowing community and sporting events to be conducted under the best possible conditions.

Choosing not to burn on those days allowed farmers to play a pivotal role in fostering a conducive environment for community gatherings, events, and activities.

This proactive measure not only reduces potential hazards associated with poor air quality but ensures that our shared spaces remain enjoyable and accessible to all community members.

Planning and Environmental Manager, Carel Potgieter, highlighted how Griffith City Council has been collaborating with the Ricegrowers Association of Australia and other stakeholders, to minimise the impact of smoke in our community.

“Growers are to be mindful of the impact, and to only burn when conditions are appropriate,” Ms Potgieter said.

“Growers have been asked to monitor weather conditions, to avoid burning late in the day and when there is no wind.

“The Ricegrowers Association of Australia have recently developed a stubble burning app that assists growers, and we strongly encourage farmers to use it to help plan their stubble burns.”

For more information about the best practice to burn stubble, visit the Responsible Stubble Management page on the Rice Growers Association (RGA) website.

• Topics:

• Agriculture & Farming
• Science & Technology