N RANCHING
atural Resources
start the fi re with propane burners they already keep on hand to burn weeds or heat branding irons. Some of them use drip torches, which are relatively
inexpensive and have been used to ignite fi res since the 1950s. Drip torches consist of an aluminum-bodied fuel container with a spout and a wick. When they are tipped, the fuel runs out and the fi re is ignited. Weir says they work with a blend of diesel and gasoline, from 50:50 up to 60:40 or 70 percent diesel in warmer weather, to reduce the fl ash from the gas.
Burn under different parameters or a different season to have varying results, based on whatever the
landowner chooses to focus on as their goal for the property.
The intensity of the fi re is dependent upon factors
like the fuel load — the amount of brush and grass present to keep the fi re going — and how moist it is. The drier the fuel, the more fl ammable it is. Outside weather conditions are also going to play
a role. Warmer air is drier and contributes to the in- tensity of the fi re.
“That’s why it’s called ‘prescribed fi re,’” Weir says.
“It’s a fi re that’s conducted on a specifi c piece of ground for specifi c goals and objectives, under a specifi c set of conditions,” including weather, fuel load, and available people and equipment. “That’s the difference between being able to control
a fi re, or somebody just going out and setting a fi re on a day where they don’t understand the weather or the fuel, and that fi re just taking off and getting away from them,” he says.
Manage the smoke Smoke management is getting to be a bigger issue
for prescribed burns, particularly in places with grow- ing populations. Weir says the operator should pick a wind direction where smoke will have the least amount of impact on people, highways and towns, and should burn under conditions that are favorable for lift. He says, “If you try to burn on days when you have
atmospheric conditions where the ceiling is low — you’ve probably seen this with a campfi re or a chimney where the smoke will just go up a little ways and fl atten out — it hits an inversion layer that keeps that smoke down on the ground. You want to have that smoke go
Cows breeding back at 95% is a result any rancher can appreciate.
anted you to know we just weaned our calves and steers
and heifers grossed 672 pounds. Cows bred back 95%. Ever since we started using your mineral we have been consistently on track."
–Mike Stewart, October 2015 ™
Since 1993 customers of Texas Range Minerals have been happy to speak a word about their results using minerals developed for their specific water and forage. Call today for our free forage analysis and improve herd health with minerals made for your cows.
Texas Range Minerals, Inc.
Dennis Webb Manager Rocker B Ranch Barnhart, Texas
Mike Stewart Munday, Texas
60 The Cattleman March 2016
800-884-3779 for information or 325-668-6775 (mobile)
www.cattlemineral.com e-mail
gcates@cattlemineral.com
thecattlemanmagazine.com
© 2016 Texas Range Minerals, Inc.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124