How Farmers Comply with the EPA Standards

A smoke management plan that describes the relationship between the agricultural community, the regulatory agencies, and the public has existed in one form or another for several years. Clean air and public health are of utmost importance to the farmers in the North Idaho area, so they have consistently adhered to the PM standards set by the smoke management plan, and striven to exceed the standards for particle emissions during the field burning season. Currently, a voluntary agreement between the North Idaho Farmers Association (NIFA), the Idaho Smoke Management Advisory Board, and the DEQ serves as the smoke management plan. The partnership that has been created by this plan provides a forum in which the field burning process used by the farmers can be monitored, studied, and evaluated for compliance with the EPA standards that protect public health.

In addition to the DEQ's efforts, the farmers in this area have also continued to monitor the environmental conditions during their burning season by staffing a meteorologist and operating a weather station. NIFA has also been a regular participant in, and supporter of, the Smoke Management Advisory Board in order to keep current on any new regulations and burning practices and standards.

Learn More about Smoke Management

What is the Idaho Smoke Management Advisory Board?
EPA standards - PM 10 and PM 2.5 - and their significance
How farmers comply with the EPA standards
Why farmers burn their fields
Burning season updates and information
PM 10 level graphs for the North Idaho area
Smoke management research
Contact the ISMAB