If you have woody debris, grass or crop residue to dispose of, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) strongly suggests using methods other than burning such as chipping, composting, chopping or cultivating. If you must burn, there are regulations that must be followed as 
outlined in the Forest Fires Prevention Act. The regulations affect you if you live in an area governed by the Forest Fires Prevention Act (see map). Your municipality may have more stringent open burning by-laws in place, which you must also follow.
If a forest fire results because you have used fire improperly, you could be held responsible for the costs of suppressing the fire and for any property damage that occurs.
Except in a Restricted Fire Zone, a fire may be started if conditions allow the fire to burn safely until extinguished and all necessary steps are taken to tend, control and extinguish the fire.
You can burn without a fire permit on land you legally occupy, provided there are no municipal by-laws requiring permits and you meet all of the following conditions (FFPA Regulation 207/96, Section 4, as amended):
- The fire is ignited no sooner than two hours before sunset and extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise.
- The total area to be burned does not exceed one hectare.
- The flaming edge of the fire does not exceed 30 metres in length.
- A responsible person tends the fire until it is extinguished.
- You have tools or water adequate to contain the fire to the fire site.
No burning is allowed in a restricted fire zone or during a municipal fire ban.
Farmers may need to burn outside of the above mentioned conditions i.e. larger areas and/or outside of the time restrictions. You may be able to do so after discussing your plans with, and obtaining a fire permit from, the appropriate fire authority. Special conditions may apply depending on the material to be burned, topography, weather conditions and local risk factors.
For burning materials other than crop residue consult your local fire service or the Ministry of Natural Resources.
This article outlines what you must do to conduct legal safe and effective crop residue burns on your farm.
Crop residue management is action taken by a farmer to reduce the impact of leftover plant materials on the current crop.
Some options include:
- mechanical removal or chopping of residue
- chemical control of disease organisms or weeds
- deep cultivation to incorporate residue under the soil and
- burning to remove residue
Fire can remove residue that hinders crop growth, limits quality or carries disease. Across the world the use of fire as an agricultural tool is being discouraged as concerns mount about greenhouse gases and air quality. Burning crop residue adds carbon, nitrogen and hydrocarbons to the air. Fire consumes organic matter and may reduce total nitrogen available for plant growth on the site. Fire can also damage growing crops. Farmers must carefully consider the costs of using fire. In most cases alternative crop residue management methods make more sense.
When planning to use fire to remove crop residue the farmer must follow the appropriate steps to ensure safety for the farm workers, the community and the forest. The Forest Fires Prevention Act (FFPA) regulates outdoor burning within the fire regions (green areas on the map) between April 1 to October 31. The FFPA applies to everyone including those burning on private land for agricultural purposes.
