Prescribed Burning Just A Part Of Management Plan

Historically, fire was a naturally occurring event in rangeland and prairie ecosystems. It suppressed woody plant species and favored the growth of grass species. With the suppression of fire, there is an increasing change in the plant community. The use of fire can have many benefits. Burning can change grazing distribution, control brush, and help to manipulate wildlife habitat if done properly.

Fire can be dangerous if used inappropriately. Producers should re-visit their management objectives, before deciding if fire is right. If fire is the correct tool there are many other factors that must be taken into account. A burn plan should always be developed for a burn. The burn plan will outline specific conditions or prescriptions needed to achieve your management goals. Detailed requirements and sequence of actions for a successful burn are part of the burn plan.

Here are a few basic requirements for a burn. Burns need to be planned enough in advance to allow grazing deferment, if adequate grass fuel is not present. Burning should be done before desirable plants begin actively growing, which is normally early March to mid April for most warm-season grasses, and burning should not be done after you can see 1/3 to 1 inch of new leaf growth. Adequate firebreaks should be installed. Temperatures should be between 45 and 70 degrees, humidity should be 20-60 percent, and wind should be 4 to 15 mph and constant, from the appropriate direction. The overriding factor in a burn should always be safety and control. Burn managers should always insure that smoke and fire are going in a safe and controllable direction.

The NRCS supports and encourages the use of prescribed burning on rangeland and pastureland; however, burning should be part of an overall management plan. NRCS personnel can help develop a site-specific plan that will insure a safe and successful prescribed burn. For technical assistance in planning and carrying out a prescribed burn contact your local NRCS Field Service Center.

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