The real story behind the numbers is the acceptance of growers to the limitation on field burning and their willingness to make use of alternatives. The seed industry has made a lot of effort to deal with the phasedown and should be commended. Alternatives to burning waste straw include exporting the straw overseas for cattle feed and bedding. Nearly 400,000 tons of baled straw is being shipped to Pacific Rim countries alone. Other growers successfully use the practice of flail chopping in which the straw residue in the field is machine chopped and either left on the ground's surface as a mulch or, with annual grasses, plowed into the soil for improved tilth.
Research continues into finding additional alternatives.
Despite the challenges, Oregon maintains the highest quality grass seed in the world, with products that find their way into lawns and golf courses throughout the world. If ODA does its job correctly this summer, growers will be able to burn the acreage that is available to them and the public will not be negatively impacted.