That multiple car accident tipped the scales against field burning. By 1998, burning restrictions reduced field burning to a maximum of 40,000 acres industry-wide in Oregon. Field burning restrictions have left farmers scrambling for alternate methods of straw removal and disease and pest control. What to do with the thousands of tons of straw was the farmers' dilemma. Innovative attempts at burning the fields with propane torches helped eliminate smoke, but raised growers' costs.
Tractor pulls straw baler across newly harvested grass fields.
Dealers sold hundreds of pellet stoves in the mid-valley. Baled straw was sent overseas, fortified with molasses, as stock feed. A California rose grower built pole barns outside of Sweet Home to warehouse straw bales until he could ship them to his rose gardens for use as mulch. Attempts were made to compost the straw bales. Stock raisers used the straw for bedding.