West Texas Rangelands
West Texas RangelandsWe hope to provide a variety of science-based rangeland information and current research on prescribed fire, wildfires, brush management, and grazing management!

Burn Smarter, Not Just Hotter: Timing Fire for Plant Response in the Edwards Plateau

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Article written by Kathryn O’Daniel
West Texas Rangelands Intern and Senior, Texas A&M University

The hottest fire is not always the best fire for meeting your management goals. In many cases, a fire applied at the right time is more effective than one with the highest intensity. Choosing when to burn is one of the most powerful tools land managers can use to guide rangelands toward a desired plant community.

Before striking a match, take time to evaluate what plants are currently present and what you want the landscape to look like in five or ten years. The timing of a prescribed burn can shift the ecological balance and help promote more productive, diverse, and resilient rangelands.

How Season Affects Fire Behavior
Fire behavior changes across the year due to variations in fuel type and moisture. Burns conducted during the growing season, typically late spring through summer and in some cases early fall, include more live plant material and higher fuel moisture. These conditions often result in variable fire behavior and patchier burns compared to dormant season fires.

Dormant season burns, commonly conducted in late fall and winter, rely primarily on dry, cured grasses. These fires are often more uniform in coverage due to consistent fuel conditions.

Understanding these differences allows managers to better match fire behavior with their objectives.

Managing Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses dominate much of West Texas rangeland and reach peak productivity during the summer. These grasses are generally well-adapted to fire.

Growing season burns can help favor warm-season native grasses, increase their competitiveness, and reduce accumulated plant litter. When combined with proper grazing management, these burns may also help suppress certain invasive species.

However, outcomes are influenced by factors such as rainfall, grazing pressure, and existing plant composition, so results may vary year to year.

Managing Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses grow earlier in the year and can provide valuable forage when warm-season grasses are dormant. Fire timing plays an important role in managing their abundance.

Burning during the active growth period of cool-season grasses, typically in the spring, can reduce their presence since plants are more susceptible to heat damage. In contrast, burning outside their growing season, such as in the summer, can favor cool-season species by reducing competition from warm-season grasses.

Because cool-season grasses extend the grazing season, managers should consider their goals carefully before altering their abundance.

Influencing Forb Diversity
Forbs are often among the first plants to respond after a prescribed burn. They provide important forage for livestock and wildlife, especially in terms of protein.

Fire timing can influence forb populations. Summer burns often promote greater forb diversity, while earlier-season burns may reduce forb abundance. Including forbs in the plant community can improve overall ecosystem function and wildlife habitat, so their role should be considered in burn planning.

Brush Management Considerations
Prescribed fire is a valuable tool for managing woody plants, but its effectiveness depends on the type of shrub present.

Resprouting species, such as mesquite and huisache, are highly adapted to fire. In these cases, prescribed fire alone is often not enough to achieve significant mortality. Instead, fire is more effective when combined with other management practices, such as mechanical or chemical control, to target seedlings and limit regrowth.

Non-resprouting species, on the other hand, are more susceptible to fire since their buds are located above ground. These plants can experience higher mortality from well-timed burns. Fire applied in the spring or winter can be used to reduce these species while retaining desirable vegetation.

Putting It All Together
Plant communities are shaped by many interacting factors, including weather, precipitation, grazing management, fuel conditions, and soil characteristics. Prescribed fire timing is just one piece of the puzzle, but it is a tool managers can actively control.

Whether your goal is improving forage production, enhancing wildlife habitat, or maintaining healthy rangeland, strategic fire timing can help move the landscape in the desired direction. Well-planned burns allow land managers to influence grasses, forbs, and woody plants simultaneously.

Plan Ahead and Burn with Purpose
Ready to burn smarter? Look beyond the hottest day and consider the season; your land will thank you. Work with local professionals, develop a burn plan, and consider how the timing of fire fits into your long-term management goals. With thoughtful planning, prescribed fire can help transform West Texas rangelands into more productive and resilient ecosystems.

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

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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.Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville, Texas, June 15-17, 2026, daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. Hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, this 3-day course provides in-depth training for landowners, fire professionals, and agency personnel seeking certification as a Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager. Registration is open at TX.AG/PBSGATESVILLE

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.

What the National CPBM Report Means for Producers Using Prescribed Fire

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Prescribed fire has deep roots in agricultural land stewardship, especially across working rangelands where fire has long been used to manage brush, renew forage, and support wildlife habitat. At the same time, the regulatory and social landscape surrounding prescribed fire continues to evolve. A new national report assessing Certified Prescribed Burn Manager programs provides useful context for producers navigating this changing environment.

Forest Stewards Guild "March 2026" report cover featuring a controlled prescribed burn in a grassy field with trees in the background.The 2026 National Assessment of Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Programs, developed by the Forest Stewards Guild and partners, examines how states across the country are supporting safe and effective prescribed fire through training and certification. While the report is national in scope, many of its findings are directly relevant to West Texas producers.

Prescribed Fire Demand Is Increasing Nationwide
The report notes a growing recognition that fire is an essential ecological process and a critical tool for reducing hazardous fuels and restoring ecosystem function. At the same time, there is an unmet demand for prescribed fire across the United States, driven by increasing wildfire risk, woody plant encroachment, and the need for proactive land management.

For producers, this confirms what many already know. Fire remains one of the most cost‑effective tools available for managing rangelands, but opportunities to burn safely are increasingly influenced by weather constraints, public perception, smoke concerns, and liability issues.

What CPBM Programs Are Designed to Do
Certified Prescribed Burn Manager programs are one approach states have used to address these challenges. According to the report, CPBM programs provide structured training, clarify standards for safe burning, and help reduce liability exposure for practitioners by establishing clear expectations and certification pathways.

As of early 2026, 24 states operate formal CPBM programs, with additional states actively developing them. These programs vary widely, reflecting regional differences in land ownership, fire culture, and policy priorities.

Acknowledging Agricultural Fire Culture
One important finding highlighted in the report is that not all regions view certification the same way. In parts of the Great Plains and agricultural regions, prescribed fire has often been passed down through generations or coordinated informally among neighbors. In these areas, some practitioners expressed concern that formal certification could interfere with trusted local systems or add unnecessary bureaucracy for producers who already burn responsibly.

This perspective is particularly relevant to West Texas. Many producers already have deep practical knowledge of fire behavior on their land and rely on local relationships to conduct safe burns. The report acknowledges that any certification or training framework must respect these established practices while still addressing modern risk and safety expectations.

Why Training Still Matters for Producers
Even in regions with strong fire traditions, the report emphasizes that accessible training remains a key support for prescribed fire. Training helps producers stay current on weather tools, smoke management considerations, equipment standards, and evolving regulations. It also supports communication with neighbors, agencies, and insurers when burns are planned.

For producers who do not seek formal certification, structured training can still strengthen burn planning and reduce risk. For those working with certified burn managers or participating in prescribed burn associations, shared training frameworks help align expectations and improve coordination.

Implications for West Texas Rangelands
Texas is unique in that the vast majority of land is privately owned, making cooperation and producer leadership essential for successful prescribed fire use. The national CPBM report reinforces the importance of balancing flexibility with accountability, especially in states where agriculture drives land management outcomes.

For West Texas producers, the key takeaway is not that certification is required for everyone, but that informed fire use is increasingly important. Whether fire is applied directly by producers, through prescribed burn associations, or with certified professionals, understanding the broader landscape helps protect both land and livelihoods.

Using Information to Support Better Decisions
The national CPBM assessment provides context for why training programs exist and how they are being used across the country. Producers can use this information to evaluate their own goals, identify resources that fit their operation, and engage more effectively in conversations about prescribed fire at the local and state level.

Prescribed fire remains a producer‑driven tool on working rangelands. Staying informed helps ensure it remains that way.

Read the Full Report by Visiting: https://irp.cdn-website.com/447b03b9/files/uploaded/2026_National_CPBM_Report_FINAL.pdf

Economic Incentives for Reducing Wildfire Risk

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What Landowners, Educators, and Technical Assistance Providers Should Know
Wildfire risk across Texas rangelands and working lands continues to rise. Larger fires, longer fire seasons, and increased exposure at the wildland–urban interface are no longer isolated concerns, they are becoming part of routine land management decisions. While traditional wildfire response has focused heavily on suppression, growing attention is being given to prevention and risk reduction, particularly through economic incentives that encourage proactive land stewardship.  Recent research examining economic incentives for reducing wildfire risk highlights both opportunities and challenges for landowners and those who support them through education and technical assistance.

Why Wildfire Risk Is Increasing
Several interacting forces are driving higher wildfire risk on rangelands:

  • Climate and weather variability, including hotter temperatures and more frequent droughts
  • Fuel buildup from invasive grasses, brush encroachment, and reduced disturbance
  • Land use change and fragmentation, which complicates coordinated fire management

The social and economic impacts extend beyond burned acres. Wildfires affect ranch operations, infrastructure, natural resources, insurance markets, and community safety. As a result, there is growing interest in tools that shift investments from post-fire response to pre-fire prevention.

What Are Economic Incentives for Wildfire Risk Reduction?
Economic incentives are mechanisms designed to lower the financial barriers to adopting wildfire-mitigating practices or to reward landowners for reducing risk on their properties. The research summarized in the infographic identifies four broad categories of incentives:

  1. Command-and-Control Policies – These include regulations such as burn bans, fuel treatment requirements, or zoning rules. While they can be effective in certain contexts, they often face resistance if they limit landowner flexibility or fail to account for local conditions.
  2. Information-Based Incentives – Programs such as cost-share education, outreach campaigns, and technical guidance aim to increase awareness and capacity. These approaches are common in Extension programming and are most effective when paired with financial or operational support.
  3. Market-Based Incentives
    • Cost-share programs for prescribed burning, brush management, or grazing infrastructure
    • Payments for ecosystem services
    • Insurance premium adjustments tied to risk reduction
    • Research shows that direct subsidies and cost-share programs are among the most frequently used and most studied incentive types for wildfire risk reduction.
  4. Hybrid Incentives – Hybrid approaches combine regulatory frameworks with market or informational tools. For example, insurance programs that reward compliance with fuel management standards.

Cost, Effectiveness, and Tradeoffs
One of the most important takeaways for landowners and advisors is that upfront investment matters, but long-term savings can be substantial.

  • Prescribed burning, targeted grazing, and mechanical treatments require planning and initial costs.
  • Over time, these practices can reduce wildfire suppression costs, limit infrastructure damage, and improve ecological resilience.
  • Studies summarized in the research indicate that prevention investments can yield significant cost savings compared to repeated emergency response and recovery.

However, challenges remain:

  • Incentive programs are often short-term, while wildfire risk reduction requires sustained management.
  • Programs may not align well with local ecological conditions or landowner objectives.
  • Participation can be limited by administrative burden or lack of technical support.

Implications for Extension and Technical Assistance
For Extension educators and technical assistance providers, the findings reinforce several key points:

  • Cultural context matters. Landowners are more likely to engage when incentives align with local norms, production goals, and stewardship values.
  • One-size-fits-all approaches rarely work. Flexible, locally adapted programs outperform rigid designs.
  • Education alone is not enough. Information is most effective when paired with financial or operational incentives that reduce risk and uncertainty for landowners.

Extension’s trusted role positions educators to:

  • Translate incentive opportunities into practical decision tools
  • Facilitate cooperative approaches across fence lines
  • Support landowners in navigating cost-share, insurance, and hybrid programs

Looking Ahead
As wildfire risk continues to shape rangeland management, future incentive programs are likely to place greater emphasis on:

  • Long-term contracts and sustained funding
  • Risk-based insurance models
  • Integrated approaches that combine grazing management, prescribed fire, and fuel reduction

For landowners, proactive participation in wildfire risk reduction can protect livelihoods, landscapes, and communities. For educators and technical assistance providers, aligning economic incentives with sound land management remains a powerful strategy for building more fire-resilient rangelands.

Learn More and Stay Connected
For additional resources on rangeland fire management, prescribed burning, and incentive programs, contact your local Extension office or rangeland specialist.

Building Knowledge and Confidence with the Updated Online Prescribed Burn School

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Building Knowledge and Confidence with the Updated Online Prescribed Burn School

Prescribed fire has long been a foundational tool for managing Texas rangelands, yet many landowners and land managers lack access to formal training that builds confidence to use fire safely and effectively. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has addressed this need with the launch of a redesigned Online Prescribed Burn School for 2026, offering science‑based instruction in a flexible, self‑paced format.

The updated course reflects decades of research and applied experience across Texas landscapes. It is designed for landowners, ranchers, and land management professionals who want to better understand fire behavior and planning, improve decision-making, and reduce risk when applying prescribed fire as a land management tool.

Why Prescribed Fire Matters on Texas Rangelands

Fire is not new to Texas rangelands. Historically, fire occurred frequently and shaped plant communities, wildlife habitat, and forage productivity. When fire is removed from the system, woody plants often increase, fuel structure changes, and grasslands can lose productivity and diversity.

Prescribed fire can help manage brush, improve forage distribution, recycle nutrients, and restore ecological processes that benefit both livestock and wildlife. However, fire is also a tool that requires planning, preparation, and a clear understanding of weather, fuels, and safety considerations. Education is essential to ensure prescribed fire is applied appropriately and responsibly.

What the Updated Online Prescribed Burn School Offers

The Online Prescribed Burn School is a self‑guided course delivered through AgriLife Learn. The program consists of 12 modules and provides participants with the background and practical knowledge needed to confidently apply prescribed fire.

Topics covered in the course include the ecology and history of fire, basic fire behavior principles, fuels and weather considerations, topography, firing techniques, equipment, smoke management, and burn planning. The course also addresses laws and regulations related to prescribed burning in Texas, helping participants understand their responsibilities as burners.

Participants can complete the course at their own pace, which makes it accessible to working landowners and professionals balancing multiple demands. The total instructional time is approximately 24 hours, and a certificate of completion is provided upon finishing the course.

Connecting Education to Certification

One important feature of the Online Prescribed Burn School is its connection to the Texas Department of Agriculture Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager program. Individuals who complete the course become eligible to pursue the official exam and field component required for certification, provided they meet TDA experience requirements.

This pathway helps expand the number of trained and qualified prescribed fire practitioners across the state. Increasing this capacity is especially important in regions like West Texas, where large properties, variable weather, and fuel conditions present unique management challenges.

Learning from Experienced Prescribed Fire Professionals

The course is instructed by AgriLife Extension prescribed fire experts, including Dr. Morgan Treadwell, Professor and Extension Range Specialist, and David Brooke, AgriLife Extension Statewide Prescribed Fire Program Coordinator. Their applied experience ensures the content is grounded in real‑world conditions and practical decision-making.

“Fire is a critical component of a healthy, well-managed rangeland,” Treadwell said. “Through this course, you will learn directly from prescribed burn experts with an emphasis on fire behavior, employing the correct firing technique, equipment, safety and much more.”

Rather than focusing solely on theory, the course emphasizes planning and evaluation. Participants learn how to assess burn units, align fire behavior with management objectives, and anticipate challenges before lighting a match. This approach supports safer burns and better outcomes on the ground.

Supporting Informed Fire Use Across Texas

The updated Prescribed Burn School is part of a broader effort by AgriLife Extension and partners to promote informed, science‑based fire use on private lands. As interest in prescribed fire continues to grow, education remains one of the most effective ways to reduce risk and increase successful application.

For landowners considering prescribed fire for brush management, wildlife habitat improvement, or rangeland restoration, this course provides a strong foundation. For professionals supporting land management decisions, it serves as a valuable reference and training resource.

Learn More and Register

Registration information and additional details about the Online Prescribed Burn School are available through AgriLife Today and AgriLife Learn. Landowners and professionals interested in prescribed fire training are encouraged to explore the course and determine whether it fits their management goals.

The course comprises 12 modules and provides participants with the background, knowledge and skills needed to safely and confidently apply prescribed fire as a land management tool.  The course cost is $300, and participants can register at tx.ag/PrescribedBurnSchool2026. Discounted registration is available for members of prescribed burn associations following verification. Participants can anticipate the self-paced course taking roughly 24 hours to complete.

Prescribed fire is a powerful tool when applied thoughtfully and safely. Continued education helps ensure fire remains part of a resilient future for Texas rangelands.