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I respectfully request that the Board move to adopt the staff
recommendation to adopt the gradual phasing out of open
agricultural burning in the San Joaquin Valley, by January 1, 2025.
The eventual elimination of agricultural burning cannot be met
without significant financial support from the State of California
to meet this moment. Burning alternatives, such as the chipping of
trees, pruning and vines, requires new capital investments in
machinery, or expanded opportunities for biomass energy generation
or the creation of renewable fuels, requires new capital for
infrastructure. As farming operations vary in size and
sophistication, we must ensure equity of access for the tools
required to eventually meet the 2025 goal. 

Further, as someone that works in the agriculture sector I can
attest, special circumstances may arise on-farm that would require
some latitude for limited burning. This would include the immediate
destruction of diseased materials, ordered removals by an
agricultural commissioner or state official, and could include
agricultural related material as weeds, vegetative material on rice
field levees; apple, pear and quince prunings and orchard removal,
weeds affecting levees and banks, and diseased beehives. A level of
flexibility is required to deal with unforeseen and unpredictable
matters that occur with farming.

Alternatives to open agricultural burning are needed, as are the
commitments from those involved to find a workable solution.

Thank you,
Tricia Blattler