In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, Noble County rancher Grady Parmley joins the team to share how prescribed burn associations empower landowners to use fire as a powerful tool for grassland management. Grady recounts his own journey from being intimidated by fire to leading burns on thousands of acres through the North Central Range Improvement Association. With insights from OSU Extension experts John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner, the episode explores how local PBAs foster neighborly cooperation, reduce wildfire risks, and improve both livestock and wildlife habitat.

Listeners will hear practical tips on equipment, safety, burn planning, and navigating the challenges of leadership and liability. Whether you're curious about how to join a burn association or want to improve your pasture management, this episode offers a blend of storytelling and expert advice that’s as educational as it is inspiring.

Takeaways:

1. Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) help landowners burn safely by pooling equipment, labor, and experience.
2. Grady Parmley transitioned from fire-fearful to a key PBA leader in Noble County.
3. Burn planning and weather forecasting are essential to safe prescribed fire.
4. Equipment like water trailers and side-by-sides are critical infrastructure for burn days.
5. PBAs often struggle with consistent member participation and leadership succession.
6. Cost structures incentivize active membership and help fund equipment and fuel.
7. Proper burns improve pasture visibility, reduce cedar encroachment, and enhance cattle management.
8. Wildlife like quail and deer benefit from restored grassland ecosystems.
9. Post-burn herbicide treatments help manage invasive species like sericea lespedeza and blackberries.
10. Liability concerns can be mitigated through shared responsibility and good communication.

Timestamps:
00:02:07 - Introduction to Grady Parmley and the North Central Range Improvement Association
00:03:13 - Grady's background and how he got into ranching and burning
00:06:41 - Lessons learned from fire mishaps and the importance of burn planning
00:10:11 - Benefits of burn associations and community support
00:12:48 - What a PBA is and how it works
00:14:06 - Coordinating large burns across multiple properties
00:16:52 - Burn equipment and infrastructure
00:18:02 - Challenges of PBA leadership and member participation
00:22:00 - Burn pricing and member incentives
00:25:02 - Visibility and safety benefits from burns
00:27:05 - Wildlife and livestock benefits from prescribed fire
00:30:24 - Managing cedar and invasive species post-burn
00:34:52 - Herbicide strategies to complement fire
00:40:02 - Burn association liability and safety culture
00:47:20 - Expanding PBAs and finding local resources
00:51:02 - Weather tools and planning resources for burns

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