(La Porte County, IN) - The open burning ban in La Porte County remains in effect.  It was extended this morning by the La Porte County Commissioners.

The countywide open burning ban was imposed two weeks ago at the request of farmers to protect drought stricken crops until they’re harvested.  Commissioner Joe Haney said the recent rain cannot bring life back to crops that died early this year from lack of water.

“The crops have dried out so much even with the rain that has come down it’s not like it rehydrates the plants and the crops. It’s still a tinder box out there in the fields,” he said.

 

Lifting the ban will be reconsidered by the commissioners in two weeks.

Farmers are at a greater safety risk this year while harvesting because just a spark from a combine could ignite the crops along with the clouds of organic material created from the thrashing the machines perform to separate crops from the plants.