Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) advises, as a result of the unusually late fall season, the province has extended the requirement for permits to burn crop residue to Dec. 3.
Under the permit program, authorization is required for daytime burning of crop residue. Authorizations are issued for certain hours and in certain areas of the province based on weather, moisture and favourable smoke dispersion conditions. Night burning is banned year-round.
Burning permit application forms and information are available from MAFRI GO offices, online at or by calling the toll-free information line at 1-800-265-1233. Service is available in French and English.
Manitoba’s controlled burning program is part of the Burning of Crop Residue and Non-crop Herbage Regulation. The program was introduced to protect public health and safety while allowing farmers to deal with difficult straw management problems.
Many producers use alternative methods of dealing with crop residue and information on that topic is also available online. Producers are encouraged to contact their local agricultural office for information and advice on crop-residue burning.
Stubble burning regulations are enforced by environment officers and the RCMP. Failure to follow the regulations could result in fines of over $2,000. Through the Growing Forward program, incentives have been established to encourage farmers to move away from the practice of stubble burning.
