Doug Watson with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) will be providing a “Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan Update,” at the December 9, 2014 Kansas Forage and Grassland Council (KSFGC) Annual meeting in Manhattan.

In 2014, four separate smoke events occurred from late March through Mid-April, causing the air quality index in Lincoln, Nebraska to spike into the “very unhealthy” category. As a result, KDHE has made some changes in their smoke models to better account for Nebraska air quality. These changes will have an indirect effect on all Flint Hills prescribed burning and likely a more direct effect on prescribed burning in the Northern end of the Flint Hills (Riley, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties). Other changes are being considered.

To learn more about upcoming changes to the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan and how they might impact prescribed burning in 2015, farmers and ranchers are encouraged to attend the December 9, KSFGC at Kansas Farm Bureau Headquarters, 2627 KFB Plaza, Manhattan.  2014 Conference Registration