Protecting paddock trees when burning stubble

Establish a minimum firebreak of at least 3m from the drip line to protect paddock trees. Destruction of a large paddock tree due to incorrect preparation and management of a stubble burn on a local property. Summary Paddock Tree Protection: Council urges farmers to safeguard paddock trees during stubble burning for agricultural practices. Benefits of Paddock Trees: Highlighting the advantages, including improved soil health, increased stock productivity, natural pest control and wildlife habitat. Legal Responsibilities: Emphasising the importance of adhering to legal requirements, creating fire breaks and not conducting burns on Total Fire Ban days. Landholder Responsibilities: Farmers reminded to follow regulations, check weather forecasts, notify neighbours, register burns with ESTA and stay present until the fire is extinguished.

Read the full story below. 

When undertaking stubble burning as part of farming practices, it is vital that paddock and roadside trees are protected during the process. Paddock trees provide many benefits to agriculture, the community and the environment, including:

Improved soil health – sequestering carbon, production of healthy organic matter and erosion control, retention of nutrients Increased stock productivity – provision of shelter from extreme heat, wind and cold reduces stock energy required to maintain body temperature, as well as reducing animal stress, which in turn improves production of wool growth, weight gain and milk production Natural pest control – the provision of habitat for birds and bats that feed off pest insects and mice. Wildlife habitat – including pollinators that are essential for fruit, vegetable and other crop production

It is important that landholders are aware of legal requirements and responsibilities when planning to burn stubble, including not conducting burns on Total Fire Ban days. Farmers should create a fire break of no less than three metres from the edge of the canopy (drip line) all around each tree. 

Council’s Acting Manager Environment, Paul Dainton, urged famers and landholders to understand the risks of stubble burning and act accordingly.

“It is illegal to remove, lop or destroy native vegetation including paddock trees and standing dead trees, therefore protecting native vegetation during a stubble burn is crucial” he said.

“Paddock trees are iconic to our agricultural landscape and provide numerous benefits that are vital to maintain a healthy environment”.

Landholders need to:

Strictly adhere to Council, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and CFA regulations and laws relating to burn offs Check the weather forecast during the planned burn days and subsequent few days Notify neighbours about the upcoming planned burn Register your planned burn with the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) – go to https://firepermits.vic.gov.au/

Landholders must remember that they are responsible for any fire on their property, and are liable for any damage caused by the fire and escaping embers. It is recommended that landholders remain in attendance at the stubble burn until the fire is extinguished and ensure they have an adequate water supply if required.

More information on how to manage stubble can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website - https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/