Summary of Event and Photos

Post-Event Press Release

Local ranchers and volunteer fire department staff joined students and faculty from Clarendon College and New Mexico Highlands University on November 4, 2021 in Mosquero, New Mexico for workshop on how and why to conduct prescribed burns in the shortgrass prairie.

Topics included why prescribed burning is useful to improve vegetation and encourage desirable wildlife, ideal weather conditions, locating firebreaks, finding equipment and crew, and how to plan a burn to achieve management objectives.  New Mexico State University Extension Forest and Fire Specialist Doug Cram was the keynote speaker, with additional information provided by Kansas State University Extension Associate Carol Baldwin.

Participants reported that the workshop provided “on-the-ground, practical info we can apply on our ranch.”  Information about the impact of humidity on fire behavior, prescribed fire frequency, and the effects of prescribed burning on grama grasses were particularly noted.  Additional workshops and training were proposed, and many of the participants are looking forward to the in-the-field training event to be held next spring at Ute Creek Cattle Company in Bueyeros, NM.

The workshop was sponsored by Ute Creek Cattle Company, three Joint Fire Science Exchanges (Great Plains Fire Science Exchange, Southern Rockies Fire Science Network, and Southwest Fire Science Consortium), New Mexico State University, Kansas State University, and Western Landowners Alliance.  Special thanks to the Mosquero Municipal Schools for providing a space for the workshop and The Headquarters for catering.