Man, in rural Kansas where I reside, this is common practice. I can drive from Baldwin to Lawrence and see fields burning, unsupervised, along the main thoroughfare. If it gets windy, the fire can jump the roads and cause issues, in which case, I think the offending farmers should be cited for careless burning. What happened to the mule pulling the old plow blade? That didn't pollute or waste fuel, but I guess when you have to till 1500 acres, the tractor makes it faster. I can see both sides of this, but the smell is enough to gag you once in awhile, and if you live in the area, it is a constant, nasty smell for a couple weeks twice a year.