The crop residue burning (CRB) program is designed to enable growers to burn under certain conditions while protecting public health from smoke impacts. The program is managed by DEQ on lands other than the five Indian Reservations in Idaho.

Crop residue is defined as any vegetative material remaining in the field after harvest, or vegetative material produced on conservation reserve program lands. It includes whole fields, pastures, spots within a field or pasture, broken bales in the field that they were generated during the time of harvest, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands, food plots, and blanching or flaming operations. It does not include vegetation along ditch banks, fence lines, orchard prunings, or forest slash piles.

Under the CRB program, growers must obtain approval from DEQ before burning by registering for a Permit-by-Rule at least 30 days before they want to burn. Detailed information on when and where the burn is to take place is required on the registration. A $2 fee per acre registered must also be paid at least seven days in advance of the burn. In addition, growers must obtain other permits, such as a fire safety permit, if required by other agencies.

Burn days are limited to weekdays during daylight hours only. Burning on weekends and state and federal holidays is prohibited. Burning can only occur in fields where the crop residue was generated.

The program requires DEQ to ensure smoke from authorized burns does not adversely impact institutions with sensitive populations, including public schools while in session, hospitals, residential health care facilities for children, the elderly or infirm, and other institutions with sensitive populations as approved by DEQ. DEQ Policy Memorandum 10-03 outlines the procedures by which other institutions may apply for sensitive population status and DEQ's process for evaluating and approving such requests.valuate and approve the request.