Assistance Requested to Help Distribute Landowner Survey on Prescribed Burning
March 10, 2026
Submitted by Caroline Ruto
Caroline Ruto, a Ph.D. student supervised by Audrey Joslin in Kansas State University’s Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, is conducting dissertation research on prescribed burning decisions and practices across Kansas.
As part of this research, a postage-paid mail and Qualtrics survey will be distributed beginning in March 2026 to agricultural landowners and managers across Kansas, including those who currently use prescribed burning, those who have used it in the past, and those who are interested in or impacted by prescribed burning practices and policies.
The goal of the survey is to better understand how weather variability, county regulations, and community expectations influence decisions about the use of prescribed burning. The study aims to document how landowners navigate uncertainty in prescribed fire management and shape rangeland practices.
Survey recipients will have approximately eight weeks to respond, and each survey includes a prepaid return envelope.
The online version can be assessed using the link: https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e9vM5Czr8p19wsC or scan the QR code at right.
Participation is voluntary and confidential. A summary of findings will be shared with participating counties and extension offices, upon request.
We are requesting support from K-State Extension agents who are willing to help share information about the survey, make copies available at local offices, or assist with distribution to landowners. If you have upcoming field days, producer meetings, or workshops where the survey could be briefly introduced, we would welcome the opportunity to participate.
Those interested in assisting or learning more about the project may contact
Caroline Ruto at carolineruto@ksu.edu.
