MDC offering four prescribed burn workshops during March in the St. Louis region

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Prescribed fire is a valuable tool that can help landowners achieve their land management goals and benefit native plants and wildlife at the same time.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering four free public workshops during March for landowners interested in learning how to properly utilize prescribed fire for the management of grasslands, prairies, woodlands, glades, and other natural communities on their land.

Participants will learn how prescribed burns can benefit natural habitats, when to burn, how to identify the proper conditions in which to conduct a burn, what to burn, how to burn safely. The workshops will be taught be by prescribed burn-certified MDC staff. These workshops are a prerequisite for having a burn plan developed by NRCS or MDC.

Specific information on each of the prescribed burn workshops are as follows:

• Saturday, March 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., in Crawford County at Reis Biological Station, 1266 East Highway 8, Steelville. Call Jeff Dierking at 573-468-3335, ext. 6601 to register.
• Saturday, March 2, 8:30 a.m. to mid-afternoon, in Lincoln County at 120 Valley Green Lane, Eolia. For more details and to register online, go to https://bit.ly/2GoAd24. The workshop will include a demonstration burn in the afternoon*, weather conditions permitting, and lunch will be provided.
• Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., in Franklin County at East Central College, 1964 Prairie Dell Road, Union. For more details and to register online, go to https://bit.ly/2GKJTn5. Weather permitting a demonstration burn will be conducted in afternoon*. Lunch will be provided.
• Saturday, March 23, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., in Jefferson County at the University of Missouri Extension Office, 301 3rd Street, Hillsboro. Call Alex Ruff at 636-300-1953, ext. 4162. Lunch will be provided.

*Attendees participating in demonstration burns should dress for the weather and have protective eyewear, leather gloves, leather boots, a handkerchief or bandana, and clothing made of natural fibers like cotton or wool. Clothing made from synthetic materials should be avoided due to its high flammability.

Each workshop is free but advanced registration is required by calling the phone numbers provided above. For more information on the use of prescribed fire, go to https://bit.ly/2BBSQf8.