Clearing the stubble

[Sventek]

I went for a drive to a place called Meckering yesterday (which you can find here if you're so inclined: http://goo.gl/maps/JXbT0), and found that the farmers were clearing the stubble in their paddocks by setting it all on fire. These are from the 'before' to the 'after' of the process.

 

[rlemert]

They used to do that every August in western Oregon where I grew up. It not only eliminates the stubble, it also helps control a blight that would otherwise be a problem. (The area is known for it's perennial seed grasses.) The problem was the area is a big enclosed valley with the prevailing winds that time of year coming into it. We'd get smoke and ash so thick it was worse than fog. Open field burning like this is now essentially banned there after it caused an 80+ vehicle crash on the main highway that killed several people.

 

[bribrius]

looks like fun. im going to go find a farm and try that.

pretty first pic, and pretty fire.