Karina Jones is a real-life ranch wife in the Nebraska Sandhills and one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the cattle industry nationwide!
These are hills are different. Thanks for tuning today to Ranch Raised.
I think there is some confusion out there about the depth of concern that we have over the charred state of dear Nebraska Sandhills. In other parts of the country, prescribed burns are common place in order to restore healthy forage environments. So, I think those outside of our Sandhills area are questioning why there is such despair. Shouldn’t these fires provide the same advantages that burning in other parts of the country do. Well, the answer is complicated and can best be described as, “These hills are different.”
These are not the hard pan, limestone laden Flint Hills of Kansas. The Sandhills are a delicate ecosystem where stewards of this land try with extreme measure to retain grass cover in order to protect the sandy topsoil that easily erodes. And when that erosion happens the grass and forages are often lost. Nebraska just came through it’s 3rd warmest winter on record. Only to be beat by the early winters in the 1930’s that came before the famed “Dirty 30’s” years. So that should give you some indication of how dry we are. Without that valuable blanket of sod and grass on the surface of this delicate sand, there is nothing to keep that topsoil, if you can call it that, stationary. We need moisture badly, but we can’t get too much at once or the sand will wash. We are in for another week of unseasonably warm temps and with that comes more wind.
These hills are different and these wildfires have exposed their fragility in ways we absolutely fear as stewards of this land. Continued prayers for all those battling the fires and their aftermath.
karina@youragnetwork.com or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
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