Rice County Conservation District

04/28/2026

04/28/2026

🌾 What Should a Healthy Prairie Look Like?

A healthy prairie is not perfectly uniform. It is diverse, productive, and constantly changing.
When you walk through a well-managed Kansas pasture, you should see:

🌾A mix of grasses and plants
• Native grasses like big bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass
• Plenty of forbs and wildflowers mixed throughout

🌾Good ground cover
• Most of the soil covered with plants or litter
• Very little bare ground
• Different plant heights and structure that benefit both domestic grazers and wildlife

🌾Limited woody encroachment
• No invading trees like eastern redcedar

Healthy prairies support livestock production, wildlife habitat, and long-term soil health. Tools like grazing management and prescribed fire help maintain that balance.

04/28/2026

Rice County Conservation District will be hosting a summer intern. If you are a High school student or College student age 16 and up and interested in careers working in conservation and learning about the different opportunities available please send a resume to [email protected] or you may bring it into the office located at 1436 W. Main St, Lyons, KS.

02/27/2026

Please join us for a free meal and great discussion on the natural resource concerns you have for Rice County. A sealed auction will be held for our 2005 Polaris ATV.