§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions were drawn from the weekly monitoring by his Department of straw burning.
§ Mr. JoplingReports received from my Department's offices around the country have indicated that less straw 297W has been burnt this year. More straw has been baled, in part perhaps because of the greater need for straw as feed following a dry growing season. There has been increased interest in incorporation of straw in the soil, at least among farmers on those soils which are more suited to incorporation.
Where straw has been burnt, the great majority of farmers have acted responsibly and made a real effort to comply with the requirements of the new model byelaws and with the National Farmers Union's revised code of practice. They have resulted in a considerable improvement in straw and stubble burning practices this year, and the number of incidents of bad burning has been much reduced. These reports have been borne out by the fire services, which report a reduction in the number of call-outs.
However, there is still room for improvement. I intend, through publicity, to maintain pressure on farmers to continue this improvement, in particular by burning only where there is no alternative and by paying more heed to advice on the weather conditions suitable for burning.