Landowners, land managers, county managers and volunteer firefighters in Jim Wells County interested in learning about prescribed burning and the South Texas Prescribed Burn Association will have an opportunity on Fri., Nov. 13, at the Prukop Farms watermelon shed between Alice and Premont in Jim Wells County. The workshop is being held by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Jim Wells County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Alice.

The workshop will feature a wide array of speakers and topics that include prescribed burn planning from start to finish, laws covering prescribed burns, fire weather, smoke control, safety conditions, and the prescribed burn association. There will also be a demonstration Prescribed Burn at the Prukop Farm, if conditions allow.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the presentations will begin at 9 a.m. Registration is $10 and will include lunch. Seating is limited so respond by Nov. 9 to Bruce Healy at (361) 668-8361, ext. 3 or Rogelio Mercado at (361) 668-5705.

The use of prescribed burning or prescribed fire has been recognized for many decades as a primary management necessity in long-term sustainability of native rangeland. Prescribed burning is the use of fire to control undesirable dead vegetation buildup and reduce wildfire hazards. Prescribed burning can also be used to prepare sites for herbicide application by removing dead plant litter blocking herbicide coverage on actively growing vegetation. Prescribed burning should be integrated with other practices such as herbicide management, grazing management, and planting riparian herbaceous cover.

Jim Wells County farmers and ranchers attending the workshop will be exempt when a county burn ban is in place – IF – they obtain, complete and follow a prescribed burn plan according to an approved NRCS prescribed burn plan. A list of the attendees will be provided to the Jim Wells County Commissioner’s Court.

This workshop will offer three pesticide CEUs for Restricted Use License. CEUs will also be available for the Society for Range Management (SRM) Certified Professionals in Rangeland Management.

Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations and/or alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, Large print, audiotape, etc.) associated with this meeting should contact Bruce Healy at (361) 668-8361, ext. 3 at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting with his/her specific request.