Why Do Ranchers Burn Their Pastures?
A behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to raise healthy beef cattle in the Flint Hills, from before sunrise to the dinner table.
Ranchers burn their pastures to maintain the health of the tallgrass ecosystem, control invasive species like the Eastern Red Cedar, reduce the risk of destructive wildfires, and promote fresh grass growth that supports healthy cattle. Prescribed burns are not destructive. They are a carefully planned, research-backed land management practice that has been used for thousands of years and is essential to preserving the Flint Hills of Kansas.
Fire Is a Natural Part of the Flint Hills Ecosystem
Fire has shaped the Flint Hills for thousands of years. Before ranchers managed the land, natural fires were started by the nearly one million lightning strikes that occur in Kansas every year. Those fires spread across the prairie until rain extinguished them, after which fresh grass would sprout and attract bison.
Native Americans who inhabited the region noticed that bison were drawn to the fresh grass growing on recently burned hills. For thousands of years, tribes set fire to the prairies intentionally to attract bison for hunting. This practice changed the ecology of the Flint Hills over millennia, and the ecosystem adapted to depend on routine burning.
Today, ranchers carry on that tradition using published ecological research and generations of pasture management knowledge. The only major difference is that the fire is now carefully planned and precisely controlled.
Without Routine Fire, the Flint Hills Would Disappear
The Eastern Red Cedar is native to the Flint Hills, but its spread has always been controlled by fire. When fire is removed from the land, Eastern Red Cedars grow unchecked and rapidly take over grasslands. The tree chokes out native grasses that wildlife depends on for food and shelter, and draws massive amounts of water from the soil.- And you are getting food from ranchers who eat the exact same beef they raise, because their children's health matters just as much as yours. -
The Konza Research Station has an ongoing study that demonstrates exactly what happens without prescribed burns. A section of land left unburned for decades has been overtaken by invasive Eastern Red Cedars, creating a stark visual contrast with the surrounding fertile, managed pastures. Beyond controlling invasive species, routine prescribed burns deliver several additional benefits to the tallgrass ecosystem:
- Reduce the fuel load across millions of acres of grassland, lowering the risk of destructive and potentially deadly wildfires
- Remove old thatch that can slow or stunt the growth of native grasses
- Naturally control weeds without the use of chemicals
- Improve overall native grassland health and biodiversity
- Support the many species of animals and plants that depend on the tallgrass ecosystem
Ranchers Are Serious About Managing Smoke Drift
Ranchers and farmers who conduct prescribed burns are deeply aware that people live near the Flint Hills, and that smoke can drift into urban areas during the few weeks each year when burns take place. Beef producers care about the tallgrass ecosystem and the communities surrounding it. In 2011, a smoke management plan was created so ranchers could plan their prescribed burns with minimal impact to urban residents. The free online tool shows ranchers how likely smoke from a burn is to affect cities as far away as Kansas City, Lawrence, Wichita, or Omaha. It is a balance between responsible ecosystem management and the comfort of people living in the surrounding region. When humidity, temperature, wind, and other conditions are factored in, the window for conducting a responsible prescribed burn can be incredibly narrow. Ranchers work within those windows diligently. One or two days of smoke per year is a sign that the Flint Hills are being responsibly managed.
Prescribed Burns Are Highly Organized and Data Driven
Ranchers do not simply start a fire and walk away. A significant amount of planning goes into every prescribed burn. Every pasture, farm, and ranch is different, and pasture management is a highly individualized process. Ranchers rely on their land's history, published ecological research, and collected data to decide when, where, and how often to burn. Not every pasture is burned every year. Because many ranches do not have natural firebreaks between neighboring properties, prescribed burns often become community events where multiple families work together. In many cases, backfires are set to prevent fire from endangering homes, hay barns, or roads. Ranchers typically keep equipment on hand to address any spot fires, including all-terrain vehicles equipped with water and sprayers. Many ranchers also coordinate with local fire departments before conducting burns. It is worth noting that in rural Kansas, many ranchers and farmers are also volunteer firefighters themselves.Burned Pastures Offer More Nutrition for Cattle
After a prescribed burn, ranchers monitor pastures closely to ensure the grass is mature enough to support grazing before turning cattle out. Fresh grass that grows after a burn is more nutritious and more palatable to cattle than old thatch-covered grass. Research has shown that cattle gain more weight on pastures that have been burned because the removal of old grass and thatch allows fresh, nutrient-dense growth to flourish. Cattle grazing the Flint Hills can gain up to 2.5 pounds per day over the spring and summer months, eating a resource that humans cannot consume on land that humans cannot farm. It is one of the most efficient and sustainable forms of protein production on earth.Frequently Asked Questions:
Why do ranchers burn their pastures?
Ranchers burn their pastures to maintain the health of the tallgrass ecosystem, control invasive species like the Eastern Red Cedar, reduce wildfire risk, remove old thatch, and promote fresh grass growth for grazing cattle. Prescribed burns are a research-backed land management practice with thousands of years of history in the Flint Hills region.
Is it safe to burn pastures?
Yes, when conducted responsibly. Prescribed burns involve significant advance planning, coordination with neighboring ranches and local fire departments, and careful monitoring of weather conditions. Ranchers set backfires to protect structures, keep equipment on hand to address spot fires, and use real-time tools like the smoke management plan to minimize impact on surrounding communities.
How often do ranchers conduct prescribed burns?
Not every pasture is burned every year. Ranchers make burning decisions based on their land's history, ecological research, and collected data. The frequency varies by pasture and ranch. The smoke management plan helps ranchers identify the safest and most responsible windows for burning each season.
What happens if pastures are not burned?
Without routine prescribed burns, invasive Eastern Red Cedars rapidly take over native grasslands. Research from Kansas State University's Konza Prairie found that without fire, the tallgrass prairie would transform into a cedar forest in as little as 30 years. Unburned pastures also accumulate thatch that slows grass growth and increases the risk of destructive wildfires.
How do prescribed burns benefit cattle?
Prescribed burns remove old thatch and promote fresh, nutrient-dense grass growth. Research has shown that cattle gain more weight on burned pastures than on unburned ones. Cattle grazing the Flint Hills after a prescribed burn can gain up to 2.5 pounds per day during the spring and summer months.
What is the smoke management plan?
The smoke management plan is a free, real-time online tool created in 2011 that helps ranchers plan prescribed burns with minimal smoke impact on nearby urban areas. It shows how likely smoke is to drift toward cities like Wichita, Kansas City, Lawrence, or Omaha based on current weather conditions, helping ranchers balance ecosystem stewardship with community comfort.
What is the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie?
The Flint Hills is a region stretching from Kansas to Oklahoma that contains the last remaining tallgrass prairie ecosystem in the United States. The land was too rocky and steep to farm, which is why it was never plowed and the tallgrass ecosystem survived. Today it is preserved through cattle ranching and responsible land management practices like prescribed burns.