Manhattan, Kansas – March 14, 2013 ---- Adrian J. Polansky, State Executive Director of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Eric B. Banks, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Kansas have issued a joint burn advisory.

Kansas landowners and operators enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program contracts with prescribed burns planned or scheduled to be completed should be aware that persistent drought conditions across Kansas are creating conditions unsuitable for completing burns. Dry soil conditions, wind speeds, low relative humidity, continued drought and current weather are all ongoing factors that are producing unsafe conditions for burns and will produce results outside the defined objectives for which the practice is planned.

Areas designated as D1 or higher on the U.S. Drought monitor map or where similar conditions exist should not be completing a prescribed burning practice. U.S. Drought Monitor can be located on the internet at: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ . Completing a burn under these conditions may increase the potential for unfavorable results such as severe wind erosion or place personal property or safety at risk.

Prescribed burning is an important component in most plant communities across Kansas. Equally as important as the need for continued prescribed burning activities is the message of use only during safe and predictable climatic conditions.

Conservation Reserve Program participants should contact their local USDA Service Center and visit with employees at the FSA or the NRCS office to discuss modifying the time frame for completing the planned prescribed burn practice. Also, Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Participants should contact their Local NRCS office to discuss planned prescribed burns.