Smoky Hills Prescribed Burn Association

09/18/2026

1. Fall Is Cedar Season — Don't Wait Until They're Too Big to Kill

Eastern redcedar doesn't take a day off, and neither should your fall planning. A cedar under 4-6 feet tall is easy fire kill — one good pass and it's done. Let it get past that height and you're looking at mechanical removal, which costs real money per acre. Redcedar encroachment has been called an epidemic across the Smoky Hills, and every burn season we skip lets another cohort get established. September and October are the time to walk your pastures, flag the draws and fence lines where cedars are creeping in, and get those units on the fall burn calendar before dormant-season conditions close the window. Reply and let us know which pastures you're targeting — we can help scout fuel loads before first frost.

2. Patch-Burn Grazing: Let Cattle Do the Regrazing for You

If you're not patch-burning yet, this is worth a hard look. Instead of burning the whole pasture at once, burn a third each year on rotation. Cattle are drawn hard to the freshly burned patch — the regrowth there is higher in protein and more digestible, and gain reflects it. Meanwhile the unburned two-thirds rest, building the residual cover that ground-nesting birds and other wildlife need. Over a three-year cycle, every acre gets burned and every acre gets a rest. It's a lower-labor way to combine grazing distribution, weight gain, and habitat goals into one plan. Thinking about splitting a pasture into thirds for next year? Hit reply — happy to talk through unit layout.

3. Sericea Lespedeza: Timing the Burn to Actually Set It Back

Sericea doesn't die from a single burn on the wrong calendar — timing is everything. A dormant-season burn alone often just clears the thatch and can even favor sericea's spring flush. The combination that works is a late-spring burn (typically May, once sericea is actively growing but before seed set) followed by grazing pressure or a targeted herbicide pass on regrowth. If sericea's been creeping into your brome or native stands, don't count on this fall's burn to solve it — start planning now for a spring burn window and pair it with your control program. Anyone dealing with a bad sericea year? Reply and tell us where it's showing up — we're tracking hot spots across the association.

4. Burn Plans Are Free Insurance — Get Yours on File Before Windows Open

NRCS cost-share and the Kansas Prescribed Fire Council both point to the same first step: a written burn plan. It documents your objectives, weather prescription, firebreaks, and contingency plan — and it's often required for liability coverage and cost-share eligibility. Fall burn windows in the Smoky Hills can be narrow and short-notice once conditions line up, so a plan sitting ready to go means you're not scrambling when a good burn day shows up on the forecast. If you don't have a current plan on file, reach out this week and we'll get one started with you.

09/11/2026

For those chasing the OWB control methods, I will reiterate, August back burns are the most kill effective and cost effective control. These pictures from Rick Pflughoeft north of Ellsworth are August 7th burn and September 11 follow up. The crown kill rate was phenomenal. The proof is in the pictures. Natives can tolerate these burns because they adapted to the prairie burns, invasive species are intolerant.
Unfortunately, I could not get any SHPBA members to assist in my OWB burns this past August. August burns are important in our ecosystem. The success of SHPBA depends on members willing to help each other.

09/03/2026

An unused firebreak for an August burn that was never lit because membership would not commit. It’s not always easy to build a crew for a safe fire.

09/02/2026

September 1st follow up on the August 12 back burn to control OWB

08/31/2026

08/30/2026

Out this morning walking the pups and checking out the August 12th CRP back burn. Here are two videos on the allopathic nature of OWB and identification of the OWB

08/28/2026

One more old world bluestem post. This afternoon I took the hoe out to grub out some of the individual OWB plants. It takes a lot of effort due to dry ground and extensive fibrous roots.

08/27/2026

Revisiting the pasture fifteen days after an August OWB back burn to apply glyphosate to those crowns that survived.

08/19/2026

CRP back burned August 12 at 100+ air temp, mild south wind, 30ish humidity. A 2.65” rain occurred 2 days after the burn. Now on August 19, the brome has resprouted along with the big bluestem. You can identify the scorched areas of OWB. However, there are OWB resprouts one week later so it was not a total kill. BUT! That burn will open up those areas of OWB patches improving the wildlife habitat for a few years. Stay tuned …

08/17/2026

Fire vs. Old World Bluestems: Join us for a unique K-State Research Burn

Members and Supporters:
Ever wonder how August fire really stacks up against invasive Old World bluestems? Here is your chance to find out firsthand and help drive local research.

The Smoky Hills Prescribed Burn Association has been invited by K-State Research for a unique field opportunity. They want to target a pasture with a heavy, established, mix of both Yellow and Caucasian bluestem (see first image for both species). Researchers suspect Caucasian bluestem is the more vulnerable of the two when hit with summer fire—and they need boots on the ground to help put that theory to the test.

The Mission:
Prior to the burn, the team will map out and identify the separate species for post burn data collection. The team will be conducting a back burn on the research plot, followed by a post-burn crown count. We will need at least 8 on the burn crew. Then, as a follow up, we will need a crew to help tallying live versus dead crowns for both species to measure the precise effectiveness of back burns on eradicating these specific invaders.

Why You Should Be There:
Contribute to Science:
Help researchers uncover actionable data we can all use in our management toolboxes. Help identify the effectiveness of back burns in each species.
Expand Your Skills:
Gain valuable experience with August prescribed burning, which behaves differently than our traditional spring windows. Gain experience in identifying Yellow and Caucasian bluestems.
Talk Strategy:
A great chance to swap notes with fellow landowners who share the ongoing battle against Old World bluestem.

If you are interested in joining the team for this burn, reach out to me directly. Once I have 8 team members, I’ll work with that team on the exact location and timing. The changing weather conditions will dictate the burn date and time.

Let's help KSU Research put some fire to work and document what it can do.
Best regards,