Wildfires are uncontrolled and destructive, but prescribed burning is an effective tool for landowners and managers needing to remove weeds and stop the advance of invasive species from pastures, said Veronica Coons at the Barton County Conservation District. However, not everyone has access to the equipment, manpower and training for a successful burn. That’s where teamwork can help.
On Tuesday, April 8, the Barton County Conservation District and K-State Research and Extension will host a Prescribed Burn Association Formation Meeting to share information and gauge local interest. The meeting will start at 4 p.m. at the Great Bend Extension Office, 3007 10th St. The program is free but people are asked to RSVP to the Barton County Conservation District at 620-792-3346, ext. 303.
A representative from the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition will speak at the meeting.
“We do have people come in from time to time looking for contractors who can burn their pastures,” Coons said. Finding someone can be difficult. A prescribed burn association is a group of producers who can share the burden.
“Two or three people is not enough,” Coons said. With a large enough group, every member doesn’t have to assist with every fire.
If there is enough interest to form an association, members will have access to grants they can apply for and government auctions for equipment such as tanks and trucks. The conservation district can help with grant applications. Other organizations, such as the Kansas Grasslands Coalition, will be able to help.
At the meeting, producers/landowners can:
• Gain valuable knowledge and resources to safely incorporate prescribed burning into their land management plans.
• Learn from experts and network with local landowners and professionals who share their goals.
• Discover how to collaborate with a Prescribed Burn Association for assistance with equipment and burn planning.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to be able to reach out and help each other and be able to get an important job done in a safe way,” Coons said.
