With crop residue burning season upon us, we wanted to update you on an inter-agency approach to address concerns from the wider community about the impacts of crop residue burning. In December, representatives from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Federated Farmers, Timaru and Waimate District Councils, the Foundation of Arable Research and Environment Canterbury met to discuss this.
Crop residue, or stubble, burning plays an important role in New Zealand’s cropping systems and while this is a permitted activity under the Canterbury Air Regional Plan (the Air Plan), rules and requirements are in place to manage adverse effects. There can be a substantial impact on the wider community from ash and smoke, often apparent several kilometres away from the site of the burn, as was experienced in Waimate during March 2019.
FAR is working with the agencies listed above to improve the practice of those undertaking crop residue burns, as well as build community understanding of this activity.
Agency responsibilities and resources
FAR: FAR’s role is in grower education. FAR has developed a practical Code of Good Management Practice for arable farmers, and recommends that anyone planning a crop residue burn follows the code.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ): FENZ is responsible for the protection of life and property. FENZ sets the fire season status and, during the summer when fire risk is higher, operates a fire permit system. Generally, the conditions of a permit require that FENZ is notified of when you are going to undertake your burn. Learn more or apply for a permit at www.checkitsalright.nz
Environment Canterbury: Environment Canterbury is responsible for implementing the Air Plan. Crop residue burning is a permitted activity in most rural areas, as long as certain requirements are met, including completing a smoke management plan – see ecan.govt.nz/outdoorburning for details. There is a 6km buffer area around the Timaru and Ashburton clean air zones where crop residue burning is not a permitted activity and a consent needs to be applied for before the activity is undertaken.
If you need advice or support, please contact the relevant agency at the details provided below:
- Environment Canterbury: ecan.govt.nz/outdoorburning or call 0800 324 636
- Foundation of Arable Research: 03 345 5783
- Fire and Emergency NZ: www.checkitsalright.nz