morgan.treadwell, Author at West Texas Rangelands

Does Prescribed Fire Ever Cross Your Mind? Join the Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville Next Month!

May 27, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

For many Texas landowners and managers, prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools available for improving rangeland health, managing brush, supporting wildlife habitat, and reducing fuel loads. Still, knowing when to burn, how to plan, and what it takes to do it safely can feel overwhelming without the right training.

That is exactly where the Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville comes in.

Hosted by Dr. Morgan Treadwell, West Texas Rangelands, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, this comprehensive three-day training will be held Monday, June 15, through Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Gatesville Civic Center in Gatesville, Texas. Designed for landowners, fire professionals, and agency personnel, this course offers a practical learning experience that connects classroom instruction with real-world application.

Whether prescribed fire is already part of your management plan or it is something you have considered but never pursued, this course provides a strong foundation in the principles and practice of prescribed burning in Texas.

Why Prescribed Fire Still Matters
Across Texas rangelands, prescribed fire remains one of the most valuable tools for restoring and maintaining healthy landscapes. Fire can help reduce woody plant encroachment, improve forage production, recycle nutrients, and create better conditions for native plant communities and wildlife.

Prescribed fire is more than just lighting a match under the right weather conditions. Effective burning requires planning, situational awareness, and an understanding of fire behavior, fuel conditions, smoke management, and post-burn evaluation. Training matters, especially for producers who want to use fire with confidence and responsibility.

What Participants Can Expect
The Gatesville Prescribed Burn School follows the Texas Department of Agriculture’s 24-hour curriculum and meets the training requirement for those pursuing certification as a Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager (CIPBM).

Participants will receive in-depth instruction in areas including fire behavior, weather interpretation, prescribed burn planning, ignition techniques, and post-burn evaluation.

When conditions allow, the course will also include multiple prescribed burns, allowing participants to gain valuable field experience alongside experienced instructors and burn professionals.

That hands-on component is especially important. For producers, there is real value in seeing how planning decisions translate to field conditions and how burn objectives, weather, fuels, and crew coordination come together on the ground.

Who Should Attend?
This training is a great opportunity for a wide range of participants, including:

Landowners and land managers interested in using prescribed fire as a management tool
Fire department personnel and emergency responders
Municipal, county, and agency staff involved in land or resource management
Anyone wanting to build a deeper understanding of prescribed fire in Texas ecosystems

For producers specifically, this course offers a chance to better understand how prescribed fire may fit into a broader management strategy that includes grazing, brush control, drought planning, and long-term stewardship.

A Practical Opportunity for Producers
One of the most valuable parts of this training is that it is designed to be practical. This is not simply a classroom discussion about fire ecology. It is an opportunity to learn how prescribed fire is planned and implemented in real-world conditions.

For producers who want to incorporate prescribed fire into their operation, this course can help answer important questions:

What makes a burn plan workable?
How do weather and fuel conditions affect success?
What equipment and personnel are needed?
How do you evaluate a burn after it is complete?

These are the kinds of questions that matter when fire becomes part of a rangeland management plan.

Registration and Event Details for the Prescribed Burn School:

Dates: Monday, June 15, 2026 through Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Location: Gatesville Civic Center, 301 Veterans Mem Lp, Gatesville, Texas 76528

Registration: tx.ag/PBSGatesville

Free registration is available for Prescribed Burn Association members, with membership verification required to confirm eligibility.

For additional information, contact David Brooke at David.brooke@ag.tamu.edu.

Building Fire Knowledge That Supports Better Stewardship
At West Texas Rangelands, we know prescribed fire is not just a tool for specialists. It is a land management practice that can play a meaningful role on working ranches and private lands when backed by training, planning, and sound decision-making.

If prescribed fire has ever crossed your mind, this course offers a valuable opportunity to build the knowledge and field skills needed to better understand its role on Texas landscapes.

The Cost of Prolonged Overgrazing: Ripple Effects on Watershed Health, Rainfall Infiltration, and Ranch Production

April 1, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

Producers often face tough choices when managing rangeland, especially during drought or market fluctuations. While maximizing livestock numbers might bring short-term profit, prolonged overgrazing can deal lasting damage to the overall health and productivity of the land. One of the most critical, but sometimes overlooked, impacts is how overgrazing disrupts the watershed and reduces rainfall infiltration, setting off a chain reaction that threatens both present and future production.

What Is Overgrazing?

Overgrazing happens when livestock remove more plant material than the land can regenerate, reducing vegetative cover. Without sufficient rest and recovery for grasses and forbs, root systems shrink, soil structure declines, and bare ground increases.

Watershed Function and Why It Matters

A healthy watershed collects, stores, and distributes water efficiently across the landscape. Vegetation intercepts rainfall, slows surface runoff, and helps water infiltrate into the soil, replenishing aquifers and supporting plant growth during dry periods. When this function is degraded, so is the life of a ranch.

The Impact of Overgrazing on Rainfall Infiltration

Intact vegetation and litter (dead plant material) act as a sponge, allowing more rainfall to soak in rather than run off. Texas A&M research consistently shows that overgrazed pastures lose this critical function (Briske et al., 2011). The results:

Increased Bare Soil – without enough cover, droplets hit bare soil directly, compacting it and reducing pore spaces.
More Runoff – compacted, crusted soils shed water, sending it downhill rather than storing it for plant growth.
Erosion – runoff carries away topsoil, further reducing the land’s ability to support vegetation.

Effects on Production and Range Health

Lower Forage Yields – less water stored means less forage growth through the season. Productivity drops, resulting in further pressure to overstock in a vicious cycle.
Reliance on Supplemental Feed – with reduced native forage, producers must purchase feed or de-stock, both of which cut into profits.
Increased Weed Invasion – bare patches and disturbed soil invite invasive species, which further outcompete desirable native plants.
Reduced Drought Resilience – healthy rangeland can buffer drought impacts; degraded rangeland cannot.

Economic and Environmental Tradeoff

“A pound of prevention is worth a ton of cure,” says Dr. Larry Redmon, Professor & Extension Forage Specialist at Texas A&M. Repairing watershed function, restoring infiltration, and rebuilding soil health can take years and significant expense.

Key findings from Texas A&M’s “Rangeland Watershed Management” (B-6136) highlight how managed grazing increases infiltration by 12–60% compared to overgrazed sites.

Steps for Ranchers

Monitor Utilization – Leave adequate stubble height and ground cover after grazing.
Rest Pastures – Allow for seasonal or rotational rest to restore plant and root health.
Observe Hydrology – Monitor for runoff, erosion, and infiltration after rains.
Consult Local Extension – Texas A&M AgriLife can provide technical assistance and region-specific recommendations.

Conclusion

The hidden cost of overgrazing is the undermining of the ranch’s very foundation which starts and ends with the soil and water resources. By prioritizing range health and managing for watershed function, producers secure not only the current year’s paycheck but the resilience and productivity of their land for years to come.

References

Briske, D.D., et al. (2011). [Rangeland Watershed Management – B-6136] (https://agrilife.org/texasrangelands/files/2011/02/B-6136.pdf), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
What Is a Watershed? (https://wrri.tamu.edu/watersheds/what-is-a-watershed/), Texas Water Resources Institute.

For more infographics and resources, visit AgriLife Extension’s West Texas Rangelands https://agrilife.org/westtexasrangelands/extension-publications/

Are you seeing signs of overgrazing, runoff, or diminished production on your ranch? Contact your county’s AgriLife Extension Office for a site assessment and recommendations today.

Fire Field Day – Mason, Tx: A Hands-On Learning Experience for Landowners

March 4, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

Landowners, ranchers, and natural resource managers across the region are invited to take part in an exciting and educational Fire Field Day. The event is slated for March 21, 2026, at the scenic White Ranch in Mason, Texas. This in-person workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from prescribed fire experts and the Central Basin Prescribed Burn Association (PBA).

With growing interest in safe and effective rangeland management practices, prescribed fire has become an essential tool for improving rangeland health, reducing wildfire risk, and managing brush and tree encroachment. This event is designed to equip participants with both foundational knowledge and practical, hands-on experience.

What to Expect at Fire Field Day
The workshop runs from 8:30am to 2:00pm, and lunch will be provided at no cost to attendees. The day includes expert-led discussions and demonstrations focusing on:

⭐ Fire Management Objectives
Learn why fire is such an effective ecological tool, how it benefits rangelands, and what outcomes you can expect when applying prescribed burning on your property.

⭐ Laws and Regulations
Prescribed fire is a powerful tool that comes with responsibilities. Attendees will gain clarity on Texas laws governing burn plans, permitting, liability, and proper safety protocols.

⭐ Safe Fire Techniques for Your Property
From ignition methods to firebreak preparation, participants will walk away with practical strategies they can apply at home.

Weather permitting, the event will also feature a live prescribed fire or brushpile burn demonstration, giving attendees a chance to observe fire behavior and management techniques in real time.

This Fire Field Day is proudly hosted by the Central Basin Prescribed Burn Association, with support from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Prescribed Burn Alliance of Texas. These organizations are committed to helping landowners apply safe, science-based fire practices to improve their rangeland and encourage healthier ecosystems across the region.

Why Prescribed Fire Matters
Prescribed burning is one of the most cost-effective and natural methods for managing unwanted brush and trees, improving wildlife habitat, stimulating new plant growth, and reducing the intensity of future wildfires. For many Texas landowners, gaining confidence and practical knowledge is the key first step toward implementing burns on their own property.

This workshop is an ideal starting point, whether you are brand new to prescribed fire or looking to expand your experience with support from certified professionals.

We hope you will mark your calendar and JOIN US!
📍 Location: White Ranch – 15071 Ranch Road 1871, Mason, TX
📅 Date: March 21, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM–2:00 PM
💲 Cost: FREE
🍽️ Lunch Included
📜 CEU’s Available

For more information and to register please visit: TX.AG/MASONFIREFIELDDAY
Spaces often fill quickly for hands-on burn workshops so don’t miss this chance to learn from experts and connect with landowners across the region.

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The Long-Term Cost of Overgrazing—and How to Avoid It

February 25, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

Rangeland health is shaped by cumulative management decisions rather than single events. Grazing practices that consider timing, recovery, and monitoring support long-term productivity and resilience.

Avoiding overgrazing requires consistency, observation, and flexibility. Just as our environmental conditions change (whiplash drought), so must our grazing strategies.

Connecting the Pieces

Understanding overgrazing, reading rangeland condition, and applying recovery-based grazing strategies work together. Each piece informs the next, creating a management approach that responds to what rangeland needs.

When these elements are aligned, rangelands are better equipped to handle drought, variable weather, fires, woody plant encroachment, and changing conditions.

Long-Term Benefits of Intentional Grazing

Over time, well-managed grazing supports stronger plant communities, improved soil cover, and greater forage stability. These benefits accumulate gradually, reinforcing the importance of patience and long-term thinking.

Stewardship Over Short-Term Gains

Successful rangeland management prioritizes sustainability over short-term use. Grazing decisions made with long-term outcomes in mind help ensure rangelands remain productive and functional for future generations. These strategies also create more flexibility across the operation because pastures are kept productive, healthy, and ready for the next grazing rotation despite challenging environmental conditions.

What Long-Term Success Looks Like on Rangeland

Long-term rangeland success is not defined by a single good year, but by consistent patterns over time. Healthy rangelands tend to show stable plant communities, adequate ground cover, and the ability to recover after grazing or environmental stress.

Successful grazing systems remain flexible. Stocking rates, timing, and pasture use are adjusted based on current conditions rather than fixed plans or continuous use. Monitoring becomes a regular habit, allowing managers to respond early instead of reacting after damage has occurred.

Over time, this approach supports more reliable forage production, improved soil protection, and greater resilience during drought and variable weather. Long-term success is built through intentional decisions made season after season, with the rangeland guiding every single management choice.

Grazing Isn’t the Problem. Unmanaged Pressure Is.

February 18, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

Grazing is often viewed as a disturbance or impediment to rangeland health, but it is just the opposite! When applied intentionally, it can support plant diversity and ecosystem function. The key is managing pressure, timing, and recovery rather than applying constant use in a continuous grazing system. Even if managers are conservatively or low-stocked, continuous grazing is a recipe for poor rangeland condition.

Grazing strategies that prioritize rest allow plants to recover and strengthen root systems.

Rest and Recovery Matter

Plants need time after grazing to regrow leaves and rebuild energy reserves that sustains populations during drought and dormancy. Without sufficient recovery, repeated grazing weakens native perennial grasses and reduces long-term productivity and diversity.

Planned grazing systems incorporate rest periods that match plant growth patterns and environmental conditions.

Managing Pressure, Not Just Numbers

Stocking rate alone does not determine grazing success. Duration and distribution of grazing pressure often have a greater impact on plant health than animal numbers.

Adjusting pasture size, rotation timing, and water placement can help distribute grazing pressure more evenly across the landscape.

Grazing as a Management Tool

When managed properly, grazing can reduce excess vegetation, promote plant diversity, and support soil health. Used intentionally, livestock become a win-win synergistic balance that contributes to rangeland resilience rather than degradation.

What Your Rangeland Is Telling You: If You Know How to Look

February 11, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

The condition of your rangeland shows how management decisions are affecting it. By paying attention to plant communities, soil cover, and overall structure, land managers can identify potential issues early and respond effectively. Regular observation is one of the most important tools in long-term rangeland stewardship.

Key Indicators to Watch

Plant diversity is a strong indicator of rangeland health. A mix of grasses, forbs, cool and warm season species, and varying plant heights often signals a functioning system. Uniform vegetation or dominance by a single species may indicate stress or management imbalance. Think monocultures of Purple Threeawn or Texas Wintergrass.

Soil surface condition is equally important. Adequate litter and ground cover protect soil from erosion, temperatures, and help retain moisture. Increasing bare ground can signal declining rangeland condition. Bare ground between bunchgrasses of plants will slowly start to expand, increasing soil movement and soil loss.

Monitoring Beyond the Growing Season

Rangeland monitoring does not stop when plants are dormant! Winter and early spring observations can reveal grazing patterns, hoof impact, and areas where pressure may be too concentrated. Monitoring native perennial grasses during the winter is just as important as monitoring during the growing season, because what you protect in the winter is what jumpstarts new growth this spring.

Tracking changes season-to-season rather than reacting to a single observation provides a clearer picture of trends and management outcomes.

Using Monitoring to Guide Decisions

Monitoring allows managers to make informed adjustments to grazing timing, duration, and intensity. When rangeland conditions are regularly evaluated, management becomes proactive rather than reactive setting pastures off to a great start this spring.

When Does Grazing Become Overgrazing?

February 4, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

Overgrazing is often attributed to having too many animals in the pasture. In reality, overgrazing is less about the number of livestock and more about how long plants are consistently exposed to grazing pressure. On West Texas rangelands, the timing and duration of grazing and rest from grazing play a much larger role in native, perennial grass health than simple stocking numbers.

Understanding what overgrazing actually looks like is the first step toward preventing long-term damage and supporting resilient rangeland systems.

What Is Overgrazing?

Overgrazing occurs when plants are grazed repeatedly without adequate time to recover. A pasture can be overgrazed even with a small number of animals if those animals remain in one area too long. When plants are repeatedly defoliated (grazed), they lose the ability to regrow effectively and rebuild root systems, steadily shrinking in mass and function.

Functioning rangelands depend on periods of rest. Without recovery time from grazing, plant vigor declines, soil cover decreases, and erosion risk and bare ground increases.

Overgrazing vs. Heavy Grazing

Heavy grazing and overgrazing are not the same thing. Heavy grazing refers to short-term use where plants are grazed intensively but then allowed time to recover. Overgrazing happens when grazing pressure continues without rest, and plants are repeatedly defoliated.

This distinction is important because grazing can be used as a management tool when paired with recovery. Problems arise when grazing pressure is constant rather than planned and rotated.

Early Signs of Overgrazing

Early indicators of overgrazing include reduced plant height, loss of preferred forage species, and increasing bare ground. Over time, these changes can lead to reduced forage production and increased weed or invasive species presence- including woody species establishment like honey mesquite and redberry juniper

Monitoring these early signals from your rangeland grasses should spur managers to adjust grazing before long-term and irrecoverable damage occurs.

Prepared Today, Resilient Tomorrow: Making Wildfire Preparedness Part of Rangeland Stewardship

January 28, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

Wildfire risk is a natural part of West Texas rangelands, but preparedness is most effective when it is part of ongoing land stewardship. Managing rangelands with long-term resilience in mind not only protects property and resources, but also supports ecosystem health and sustainable operations.

Integrating Preparedness into Stewardship Practices
Preparedness begins with everyday land management decisions. Practices such as targeted grazing, rotational grazing, and selective vegetation management help reduce fuel loads while maintaining healthy grass and brush cover. These strategies are not one-time solutions—they are ongoing practices that strengthen the landscape over years.

Infrastructure and Access as a Stewardship Tool
Maintaining roads, fence lines, water sources, and access points is a long-term investment in rangeland resilience. Clear access allows for safe movement of equipment and personnel if wildfire conditions arise. Roads and defensible corridors also serve as strategic breaks in fuel, reducing potential fire spread while supporting everyday operations.

Monitoring Conditions Over Time
Ongoing observation of vegetation, fuel, and weather trends is central to long-term preparedness. Tools like the Jornada Rangeland Analysis Platform provide historical and current data on vegetation growth and drought patterns. Combining this data with on-the-ground monitoring helps landowners make adaptive decisions, such as adjusting grazing or vegetation treatments, in a way that supports both land health and wildfire preparedness.

Preparedness as a Continuous Practice
Long-term wildfire preparedness is not about expecting a fire every year. It is about creating a resilient, well-managed landscape that can better withstand unpredictable events. Maintaining native grasses, managing fuel continuity, and planning infrastructure improvements over time ensures the land remains productive and safer under a variety of conditions.

Building Resilient Rangelands
By treating preparedness as part of overall stewardship, landowners reinforce their long-term investment in rangeland health. The combined effect of fuel management, infrastructure planning, monitoring, and adaptive management reduces potential wildfire impact while sustaining the ecological and economic productivity of West Texas rangelands.

Fuel, Weather, and Risk: Monitoring Wildfire Conditions on Your Land

January 21, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

Wildfire risk on rangelands is influenced by changing conditions rather than a fixed season. Weather patterns, vegetation growth, and fuel dryness all vary throughout the year. Monitoring these conditions helps landowners and managers understand when wildfire risk may increase and supports better decision-making.

Tracking Fuel Conditions
One of the most important factors to watch is fuel condition. Grasses and other fine fuels dry at different rates depending on temperature, wind, and recent precipitation. After periods of rainfall, rangelands may produce increased vegetation that later becomes dry fuel. Observing changes in fuel amount and dryness over time provides valuable context for management activities.

Watching Weather Patterns
Weather conditions also play a key role. Low humidity, strong winds, and extended dry periods can increase fire potential. Monitoring forecasts and short-term weather trends helps identify periods when caution may be needed. These conditions can occur at any time of year in West Texas, including winter months.

Using Regional Data Tools
In addition to on-the-ground observations, land managers can use online tools to track broader trends. The Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP) provides data and visual tools that help users assess vegetation productivity, drought patterns, and long-term rangeland conditions. This platform allows landowners to view changes across large areas and compare current conditions to historical averages.

Connecting Data with Local Knowledge
Using tools like RAP alongside local knowledge creates a clearer picture of rangeland conditions. While no single dataset can predict wildfire, combining field observations with regional data improves awareness and supports informed planning.

Applying What You Observe
Monitoring conditions also helps guide everyday decisions. Timing of equipment use, grazing rotations, or vegetation treatments can be adjusted based on current fuel and weather conditions. This approach reduces unnecessary risk while maintaining normal land management operations.

Staying Aware Over Time
Monitoring is not about expecting wildfire to occur. Instead, it is a way to stay informed and adaptable. Conditions change, and understanding those changes helps landowners respond thoughtfully rather than reactively.

Roads, Buffers, and Water: Preparing Your Ranch for Wildfire

January 14, 2026 by morgan.treadwell

Wildfire is one of several natural disturbances that can affect West Texas rangelands under certain conditions. While wildfire does not occur every year or on every property, periods of dry weather, low humidity, and strong winds can increase risk. January provides a useful time to evaluate infrastructure and address potential vulnerabilities ahead of higher-risk periods.

Infrastructure influences both wildfire prevention and response. Roads, fences, water sources, and access points affect how fire may move across a landscape and how landowners or responders may access an area if a wildfire occurs. Maintaining these systems can reduce potential impacts and improve safety.

Roads and Access Points

Well-maintained roads improve access for routine management and can be important if emergency access is needed. Roads also create breaks in vegetation that may slow fire spread under certain conditions. Keeping roads passable and managing vegetation along road edges helps maintain these benefits.

Fence Lines and Corridors

Fence lines, pipelines, and utility corridors often accumulate grasses and debris. These areas can create continuous fuel pathways if ignited. Managing vegetation along these corridors helps reduce fuel continuity and may limit fire movement between pastures.

Water Availability

Water infrastructure can support wildfire response if needed. Stock tanks, ponds, and troughs should be accessible and free of excessive vegetation. Clearly identifying water access points ahead of time improves readiness without assuming they will be needed.

Structures and High-Use Areas

Barns, sheds, working pens, and equipment areas are commonly used spaces where ignition sources may be present during dry and windy conditions. Reducing fine fuels around these areas helps lower the chance that a fire could spread to structures. Maintaining open space around buildings also improves visibility and access.

Planning and Timing

Infrastructure preparation is most effective when addressed well before high-risk conditions develop. Reviewing access routes, identifying areas with heavy fuel accumulation, and making gradual improvements allows flexibility in management decisions.

Wildfire is not guaranteed, but preparation supports resilience. Maintaining functional infrastructure improves overall land management and ensures that, if wildfire conditions develop, landowners are better positioned to respond safely and effectively.

Visit our site to learn more about wildfire risk.