07/18/06 Takasugi`s burning decision

Idaho State Department of Agriculture Director Pat Takasugi says he cannot find an economically viable alternative to open burning of crop residue. Under Idaho law, the director must determine whether there is an economically viable alternative to burning that would allow growers to still dispose of residue, increase yields and control diseases, weeds and insects. While the law doesn't require the director to make an annual review, Takasugi does so anyway in order to examine the latest available information. But it's certain that burning opponents like SAFE will be out in force again this summer, demanding an end to the burning. GORA "Because time is of the essence we really need to call attention to this issue." SAFE has done that by filing state and federal lawsuits to stop the Idaho burning. Some farmers wonder if it's worth it to keep going or better to just sell off the land. That worries their neighbors. NEIGHBOR "With the grass fields out there my aquifer is protected. If I see a hundred thousand houses out here I don't have that protection. I don't know what someone is dumping in their backyard anymore." The Idaho State Department of Agriculture oversees about 30 percent of the field burning that takes place in northern Idaho. Other field burning is managed by area tribes as sovereign nations. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott