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-2026 STEWARDSHIP WEEK-

RANGELAND EDUCATION

DAY

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What is Rangeland?

    • Rangeland is NOT just “empty land”
    • It covers a huge portion of Kansas and the Great Plains
    • Much of it can’t be farmed because it is either too rocky, too dry, too hilly, or all of the above

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Why It Matters

    • Soil Stability
      1. grass roots hold soil in place and prevent erosion
    • Water Cycle
      • healthy grasslands increase water infiltration, reduce runoff, and recharge groundwater
    • Productivity
      • more grass = more forage
      • more forage = better livestock preformance

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ERC Facts:

    • Eastern Red Cedar trees are native to Kansas
    • Mature trees use up to 30 gallons of water... PER DAY
    • They create fuel for wildfires
    • They shade out native plants and grasses

The Problem:

Eastern Red Cedar

Even native plants can become so out of balance in an ecostystem that they become “invasive.” This doesn’t make them bad, this means they’re in the wrong place and need to be managed.

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Fire Facts:

    • Fire used to have its own natural cycle
    • Indigenous groups practiced prescribed fire
    • In the late 19th Century, humans began to suppress fire usage at the federal level

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Fire Suppression Cedar Expansion

The Missing Piece: Fire

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Grazing

Overuse leads to bare soils, poor water infiltration, and erosion concerns.

Poor Grazing

Managed grazing leads to recovery, species diversity, and healthier soils

Managed Grazing

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Fire + Grazing

Used together, these management practices mimic natural systems, create plant diversity, and improves habitat.

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Management Match

Match the best management method to its given scenario. There’s not always just one correct answer. There is, however, a best answer.

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https://dashboard.blooket.com/set/69c5313f7944ebabb7c1ab64

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Prairie Protector

You have limited time, limited resources, and problems that don’t wait...

Your Mission:

    • Keep grass productive
    • Control cedars
    • Don’t run out of resources before you’ve finished your mission

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Go to: www.prairieprotector.com

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Debrief

    • What happens if you ignore a cedar?
    • What tools cost the most?
    • What strategy worked best, and why?
    • What happened when the cedars got ahead of you?

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Back to Soil

more cedars = less grass

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less grass = weaker root systems

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weaker roots = soil loss

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Three Takeaways

    • Rangeland needs active management.
    • Tools like fire and grazing are necessary, not optional.
    • Soil health depends on what happens above ground.

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ANY QUESTIONS?

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THANK YOU!

-Abagail Britton