The role of fire has come full circle in the grasslands of the Great Plains. Large, landscape influencing fires occurred naturally before the arrival of settlers who staked their claim in the open grasslands of Kansas.
As settlements grew, fires became smaller and less frequent due of their threat to life and property. As a result, woody species and undesirable weeds have rapidly expanded across the Great Plains.
Research and experience have shown that when properly applied, fire can provide valuable benefits to grassland health, grazing livestock and wildlife habitat. While prescribed fire provides many positive benefits, there is also extreme risk involved. Many of these dangers can be minimized by thorough planning. A proper burn plan should outline weather conditions, manpower, equipment, and how to conduct the burn. Now is a great time to create your plan.
Prescribed burning workshops are conducted across the state of Kansas every year. Several different associations and agencies work together to bring information to landowners. Local organizations will be working together to host the Flint Hills Burn Workshop in Greenwood County. The program will be on March 4, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Hamilton Community Building and conclude by 3 p.m. The program will prepare landowners for a successful burning season. Topics for the day include burning techniques, reasons for burning, burning effects on noxious weeds, such as Old World Bluestem and Sericea Lespedeza, weather considerations, planning a burn, local regulations, CRP guidelines and much more.
A registration link can be found online at www. greenwoodcounty.org or by calling Greenwood County Conservation District office. Agencies sponsoring this workshop include K-State Research & Extension, Evergy, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Greenwood County Emergency Management, Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism, Greenwood County Cattlewomen, Greenwood County Cattlemen. For more information regarding the event please call the office at 620-583-5544 ext. 3 or the Extension Office at 620-583-7455. Be sure to follow K-State Research & Extension and the Conservation District on Facebook for the most up-to-date information on local programs.
