West Texas Rangelands

🔥 Prescribed Fire Field Day – Learn It. See It. Do It.

Join Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and partners for a hands‑on field day focused on using prescribed fire to improve rangelands and wildlife habitat.

Topics include fire effects on browse, wildlife responses, burning laws, and landowner programs, followed by a live prescribed burn demonstration (weather permitting).

📅 Friday, July 10, 2026
📍 Matador Wildlife Management Area, Paducah, TX
✅ Lunch provided
✅ Earn 6 Continuing Fire Training credits
👉 Pre‑registration required by July 7 - Link in Comments!

📣 Tag a neighbor and share this with your burn crew or PBA members

We closed out Day 2 of our Prescribed Burn School with lots of great presentations and even better conversations. Day 3 is here and we are taking on a few final presentations and some hands on learning!

If prescribed fire has ever crossed your mind this is a great place to learn and get hands on experience. Keep an eye out for our next opportunity to join us!

Day 1 is in the books, and we are full steam ahead for Day 2 of our Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville! Huge shoutout to the entire team that makes these events come together!

We covered it all - Fire History, Fire Behavior, Smoke, Topography. More to come today!

Thank you to Robert Ferguson and the staff at the Coryell County Extension Office for all of their help!

Hold on folks…

Plant of the Month 🌾
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

This month, we’re highlighting switchgrass, a native warm‑season perennial grass found across Texas rangelands. Known for its height, deep root system, and adaptability, switchgrass is an important species for building resilient, productive grazing systems.

Switchgrass grows well on a variety of sites, particularly deeper soils, and plays a key role in forage production, soil stability, and moisture retention. It provides grazing for livestock and valuable cover and seed for wildlife. Its extensive root system helps improve soil structure and supports long‑term rangeland health, especially when managed under proper grazing pressure.

Understanding and recognizing native grasses like switchgrass helps landowners and managers better evaluate rangeland condition and make informed management decisions.

The Plant of the Month is proudly sponsored by Bamert Seed Company, a trusted source for high‑quality native seed and restoration solutions across Texas.

To learn more about switchgrass, visit: https://rangeplants.tamu.edu/plant/switchgrass/

Explore Bamert Seed’s offerings at: Bamert Seed Company

🔥 Talking Fire Webinar Series: Smoke, Neighbors, and Public Perception

Prescribed fire is a powerful management tool, but success goes beyond the burn plan. It also involves communication, planning for smoke, and working with neighbors and communities.

Join this upcoming session in the Texas Prescribed Fire Webinar Series to learn practical strategies for addressing concerns, coordinating with local stakeholders, and building support for prescribed fire.

📅 Tuesday, July 28, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
👉 Register now: https://tx.ag/TalkingFire

📣 Share this opportunity with landowners, burn bosses, and PBA members involved in prescribed fire.

When it comes to prescribed fire, hotter is not always better.

Timing your burn can make a big difference in how grasses, forbs, and brush respond on your rangeland. Whether your goal is improving forage, increasing plant diversity, or managing woody plants, the season you burn matters.

Want to make more informed decisions with fire on your operation? This new article breaks down how to match timing with your management goals.

👉 Grab a cup of coffee and take a minute to read the article and start planning your next burn with purpose.

🔗Link to read the full article and to subscribe to the weekly newsletter in the comments below.

🌱 Range Management Seminar – Christoval, TX

Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for a hands‑on seminar focused on practical tools and current issues in rangeland and pasture management. Topics include targeted grazing for wildfire mitigation, IPM updates, virtual fencing, drones in agriculture, and NRCS programs.

✅ Lunch provided
✅ 3 CEUs available (IPM & General)
📅 June 12, 2026
📍 Christoval Community Center
👉 Call to RSVP: 325‑659‑6522
📣 Share this with producers, land managers, and applicators who would benefit from this training.

Could your ranch withstand a wildfire?

Wildfires are becoming more frequent across Texas, making preparation more important than ever. Taking action before fire season can help protect livestock, forage, equipment, and infrastructure when conditions become dangerous.

Simple steps such as reducing fuel loads through grazing, maintaining firebreaks, creating defensible space around structures, and developing livestock evacuation plans can make a significant difference during a wildfire event. Working with local fire departments, keeping updated ranch maps, and ensuring adequate insurance coverage are also important parts of wildfire preparedness.

While wildfires cannot always be prevented, proactive planning can reduce risk, improve response efforts, and help ranch operations recover more quickly after a fire.

Learn more about how to properly prepare at:https://agrilife.org/westtexasrangelands/files/2025/01/AgEXT_WildfireBulletin_2025-01.pdf

Post Credit - West Texas Rangelands Student Cooper Caswell