Agricultural burning is the open burning of vegetative materials produced from commercial growing and harvesting of crops. Agricultural burning also includes the use of open outdoor fires used in the operation or maintenance of a system for delivery of water, wild land burning, forest management burning and wildlife habitat improvement.
Agricultural burning helps farms remove crop residue left in the field after harvesting grains such as rice, safflower and wheat, and for orchard and vineyard prunings and tree removal. For some crops including rice, burning is the most efficient and effective way to control disease.