For years, Jefferson County farmers who depend on fire to kill diseases, produce better yields and kill weeds have known the flames on their fields could be put out permanently.

The Legislature’s decision on Monday to ban field burning in the Willamette Valley, starting in 2010, won’t necessarily directly impact Central Oregon farmers — but the bill is a likely indicator of what could be in the region’s future. For farmers growing Kentucky bluegrass seed, one of Central Oregon’s most important crops with sales totaling $11.4 million in 2008, burning is a surefire way to produce a good yield.

For some Central Oregon farmers, news of the ban is disheartening, but not surprising.

Since 1947, Madras farmer Gary Harris’ family has worked the Jefferson County fields. Currently, he’s growing about 265 acres of grass seed.

“They have beat us down on field burning, year after year,” he said. “We don’t try to burn and run the smoke toward people and affect their lives. But they all move here and expect things to be different once they get here.”

Harris said he’s thankful that so far the Central Oregon community has understood what a vital tool fire is for farmers.

“When the economy is the in the tank, Jefferson County agriculture … is a necessary element to the business structure of Central Oregon,” he said. “Fire is a tool of ours, we wouldn’t want to curtail the largest crop in Central Oregon.”

Kip Light, of Madras’ S and L Farm, grows about 700 acres of grass seed.

“We would probably have to try different programs. (Oregon State University) has done a lot of research … but (methods besides burning) are expensive, and if it costs more money, we would need to raise the seed price or we’ll have to stop growing,” he said.

Mike Weber is the Jefferson County Smoke Management Committee chairman and managing partner of Central Oregon Seed Industry Inc. In the past five years, Jefferson County has taken several self-imposed steps so its farmers can continue field burning. The committee banned field burning along highways. Its members are trying to reduce the amount of material that needs to be burned. And they have a smoke management coordinator that studies the weather and finds the best days for farmers to burn.

Researchers from the Jefferson County office of the Oregon State University Extension Service are also in the second year of a three-year project to determine what varieties of grass grow best without the use of fire.

“We’re proceeding with the attitude that each year we’re given the opportunity to burn … we will use it with good discretion, knowing we may not have it in the future,” Weber said. “And that’s been our attitude regardless of what’s going on in the Valley.”

Rich Affeldt, a crop scientist with the OSU Extension Office, said it’s vital to figure out a solution.

“For me, personally, with all the projects on my plate, this is the highest priority,” he said. “Because bluegrass is the key crop and this is the key issue for that crop.”