Smoke Management

Smoke Management in North Idaho is not a simple topic. Farmers in North Idaho work within guidelines established by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture to minimize the impact of residue disposal operations.
The American Lung Association publishes its American Lung Association State of the Air report every year. The report was front page news in many parts of the country. In 2004 and 2005 Kootenai County and Nez Perce County received an A (as in A for the best) for particle pollution while Bonner County got a B. You can view this report at The American Lung Association website: www.lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2005.html

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, The Idaho State Department of Agriculture is responsible for regulating the practice of thermal crop residue disposal as defined in state statute.
No farmer in North Idaho can conduct any crop residue burning without
first registering each field with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and receiving authorization from the department.

More information can be obtained about the regulations by visiting the state website: www.agri.idaho.gov

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