STATE CITES ORAN FARMER IN BUS WRECK FROM FIELD FIRE

For the first time, the state of Missouri has cited a farmer for a field fire that led to a school bus accident.

A division of the Department of Natural Resources recently cited Oran farmer Donald Schlitt.

On Sept. 8, he was apparently burning off his corn field when the nearby grass caught fire, according to the Highway Patrol.

The thick smoke contributed to the head-on collision of an Oran school bus and a minivan. No children on the bus were hurt, but the driver of the van and her four children were all injured.

Schlitt was sent a "notice of violation" from the state in late September by certified mail. Steve Feeler, chief of enforcement for air pollution control problems, said the state has not yet determined what penalty, if any, would be assessed.

It is not uncommon for farmers to burn off their crops, said Feeler. In fact, the state statues against open burning includes an exemption for agricultural burning.

But the exemption also outlines a special clause that the burning should not cause a public health hazard, nuisance, or hazard to vehicle or air traffic, he said.

"This is not the first accident caused by agriculture burning in that part of the state," said Feeler. "The regulation was changed not long ago because of continuing problems with wrecks due to smoke."

The investigation was instigated when an anonymous complaint was filed in Jefferson City over the accident, according to the DNR office in Poplar Bluff. The regional office sent out a field investigator, and also based its decision on the Highway Patrol report of the accident.

Schlitt couldn't be reached for comment.

But Gerald Bryan, University of Missouri Extension agronomist, said a number of farmers still burn off their crops in Southeast Missouri.

"South of here it's a traditional practice to get rid of residue on top of the field, particularly from corn, wheat and even rice stubble," said Bryan.

Many farmers feel burning off the field helps control disease or insects, but Bryan feels the practice is becoming less valid due to better insecticides and improved disease control products.

A number of farmers also quit the practice with the 1985 Farm Bill, which mandated that crop residue be left for water and erosion control. That provision has since run out.

Other farmers found the burning too unpredictable, and lost their own pickups and combines, said Bryan.

"North of the Diversion Channel the burning has stopped," said Bryan. "I'd say a good 50 percent or more quit burning in the last few years."

But with margin on crops low now, some farmers may be more inclined to burn off the crop residue as a way to save dollars, he said.

The crash occurred between Oran and Chaffee on Scott County Road 264, just off Missouri Highway 77.

Some seven or eight students remained on the school bus at the time.

Oran Superintendent Tom Anderson said smoke from agricultural burning is not a large problem for the district.

"Normally, it doesn't happen during the time the buses run," he said. "This is highly unusual."

Lisa Scherer of Oran and her four children, ages 2 to 10, in the minivan were injured.

Anderson said the school-age children in the van were back in school after missing a few days.

"They're doing fine," he said.