This is the time of year, in April when farm producers often do their agricultural burning. Garry Berges, Geary County Rural Fire Chief, said some of that has started in recent days but most of it usually occurs in April. "The farmers are out. They want a little bit of green grass to start growing and so they'll go out and burn their pastures. " A primary reason is to create new vegetation for livestock on those lands.
Berges said his office has been hearing that unless more moisture is received most of the farmers will not be burning this year. "It was that way last year, plus when they finally did get some moisture it was too windy, too rainy too much."
State law prohibits the burning of brush piles in the Flint Hills in April. Geary County is a part of the Flint Hills.
To register for a controlled agricultural burn call the Emergency Management Office at 784-238-1290 to find out if the conditions are or are not favorable and then if they've got the permit they can burn. Berges said you will be asked how many people do you have to help burn and about the available water supply. Authorities do not want one or two people trying to burn a large acreage area, but Berges indicated often farmers work with nearby land owners and work together on the project.
It is the responsibility of the land owner to notify law enforcement know if smoke will go across a highway. "We try, if possible, if it's going to be for a long period of time or along an interstate to try and get law enforcement involved to try and slow traffic down, said Berges. He also noted that KDOT will often put signs on their billboards warning of smoke in the area. "We try to keep smoke away from the highways just by the wind direction. People try to burn so it doesn't go that direction. "