000121393
 INQUIRE=DOC8D
 ITEM N0=00667641
 ENVELOPE
 CDSN = LGX653   MCN = 89228/29638   TOR = 892281931
 RTTUZYUW RUEKJCS0010 2281927-UUUU--RUEALGX.
 ZNR UUUUU
 HEADER
 R 161927Z AUG 89
 FM JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
 INFO RUEALGX/SAFE
 R 161623Z AUG 89
 FM FBIS VIENNA AU
 TO RUCWAAA/FBIS RESTON VA
 RUCBSAA/FICEURLANT NORFOLK VA
 RUCLACC/CDR4TIIPSYOPGP FT BRAGG NC//ASOF-POG-SB//
 RUDKST/AMEMBASSY SOFIA
 RUEBHAA/STORAGE CENTER FBIS WASHINGTON DC
 RUEKJCS/DEFINTAGNCY WASH DC
 RUETIAV/MPC FT GEO G MEADE MD
 RUFHVOA/VOA MUNICH GE
 ACCT FBAU-EWDK
 BT
 CONTROLS
 UNCLAS 2B
 BODY
 COUNTRY: BULGARIA
 SUBJ:     FARMERS BURNING STRAW TO MAKE UP FOR DELAYS
 SOURCE:   SOFIA RABOTNICHESKO DELO IN BULGARIAN 11 AUG 89 P 2
 TEXT:
 //((UNATTRIBUTED REPORT:  "WARNING TIP:  BAN ON 'FLYING SAUCERS
 MADE OF STRAW"))
 ((TEXT))  IT IS WELL-KNOWN HOW THE SHORT-LIVED SENSATIONAL STORY
 ENDED CONCERNING THE UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT THAT WAS RECENTLY
 REPORTED TO HAVE LANDED NEAR MOSCOW:  UNPREJUDICED INVESTIGATIONS
 PRODUCED A PERFECTLY PROSAIC EXPLANATION, NAMELY THE COMBUSTION OF A
 LARGE AMOUNT OF DRY GRASS.  WE WOULD NOT MENTION THIS ATTEMPT TO
 MAKE UP FOR THE SUMMER SHORTAGE OF INTERESTING NEWS WITH A
 FABRICATED STORY, IF THE DANGER HAD NOT RECENTLY ARISEN OF SIMILAR
 "LAUNCHING AREAS" ALSO APPEARING IN THE FIELDS OF BULGARIA.
 DELAYS ARE OCCURRING IN COLLECTING THE STRAW FROM HARVESTED
 FIELDS, AND BECAUSE IN MANY AREAS THIS HAS BEGUN TO HINDER THE
 TIMELY COMPLETION OF THE BASIC SOIL CULTIVATION OPERATIONS, IT IS NO
 WONDER THAT CERTAIN LEADERSHIPS MAY BE TEMPTED "TO PUT A MATCH TO
 IT," WITHOUT WASTING ANY TIME IN THINKING OF THE EXISTING
 CATEGORICAL PROHIBITION ON THIS.  IT IS NOT SUPERFLUOUS TO REMIND
 C00121393
 PAGE:0045
 OURSELVES THAT THOUGH PROHIBITIONS MAY WELL EXIST, VIOLATIONS OF
 THESE PROHIBITION EXIST AS WELL.
 THE LOWEST PERCENTAGES OF STRAW HAVE BEEN COLLECTED IN SOFIA,
 RAZGRAD, BURGAS, AND MIKHAYLOVGRAD OBLASTS (BETWEEN 36 AND 45
 PERCENT).  MARKED DIFFERENCES CAN BE NOTED IN THE WAY THE DIFFERENT
 MUNICIPALITIES ARE CARRYING OUT THIS AGRICULTURAL TASK.  WHEREAS A
 FEW DAYS AGO VELIKO TURNOVO MUNICIPALITY HAD COMPLETED 97 PERCENT OF
 THIS TASK, AND LOM MUNICIPALITY HAD COLLECTED THE STRAW FROM 86
 PERCENT OF THE HARVESTED FIELDS, MIKHAYLOVGRAD MUNICIPALITY HAD ONLY
 COMPLETED ONE-THIRD OF THE WORK.
 OF COURSE, OBJECTIVE REASONS DO EXIST.  LARGE AMOUNTS OF STRAW
 LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR CAN BE SEEN, AND VILLAGE FARMERS ARE
 REFRAINING FROM COLLECTING AND BALING THE STRAW IN ORDER TO AVOID
 EXCESS EXPENDITURES (WHICH ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT).  HOWEVER, THE
 TRUE FARMER FINDS A WAY OUT, FOR EXAMPLE BY DISTRIBUTING UNLIMITED
 AMOUNTS OF STRAW TO PRIVATE FARMERS, OR BALING IT TO KEEP IT IN
 RESERVE FOR THE NEEDS OF STOCKBREEDING AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION.
 EVERY SOLUTION IS GOOD IN ITS OWN WAY, BUT ONE IS ABSOLUTELY
 UNACCEPTABLE, AND THAT IS BURNING!
 WITHOUT MENTIONING THE DANGER PRESENTED BY STUBBLE BURNING, AND
 WITHOUT CONSIDERING IN DETAIL THE LOSSES, WHICH CAN VERY EASILY
 MULTIPLY (AS SUCH MATTERS ARE CLEAR TO EVERYONE), LET US REMIND
 OUTSELVES OF THE EXTREMELY UNFAVORABLE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES.
 MANY OF, US, IF NOT ALL, HAVE SEEN THE BLACK PATCHES CAUSED BY THE
 FIRES, THE SOIL BAKED HARD AS BRICK.... THE EARTH CARRIES SUCH
 WOUNDS FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY ARE NOT EASILY CURED.
 THUS, THE "LANDING" OF SUCH "FLYING SAUCERS" MADE OF STRAW MUST
 CONTINUE TO BE PROHIBITED.  IF THE-TELL-TALE SIGNS OF ORANGE FLAMES
 SHOULD NEVERTHELESS APPEAR ANYWHERE, OUR READERS KNOW WHOM TO INFORM
 OF THE VIOLATION.
 ADMIN
 (ENDALL) M11508.02P 11 AUG                16/190OZ AUG
 BT