Landowners, county managers, local volunteer firefighters and others interested in learning about prescribed burn associations will have an opportunity on Thursday, July 17, at Mirando Quad City Community Center, 917 N. Main Ave. in Mirando City. The workshop will feature a wide array of speakers and topics that include laws covering prescribed burns, forming a prescribed burn association, and private property owners’ rights.

Registration is 8 a.m. and the presentations will be 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is free and lunch will be served. Respond by July 16 to Flavio Garza Jr., District Conservationist with USDA-NRCS at (956) 723-3222 ext. 3 or e-mail flavio.garza@tx.usda.gov.

The use of prescribed burning or prescribed fire has been recognized for many decades as a tool to sustain healthy rangelands. Prescribed burning is the use of fire to suppress undesirable vegetation, remove litter buildup, stimulate grass growth, and reduce wildfire hazards. Prescribed burning and grazing management can be used together to reduce brush management expenses. In the long run, these lower costs can lead to a more profitable ranching enterprise.

Workshop sponsors include Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Webb County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.