The spring thaw will be quickly upon us. The irrigation ditches will need to be readied to accept the glorious flow of water. To ensure the hay meadows receive the optimum amount of precious water, some folks in the ranch and farming world accept the fact that it’s time to burn. The hay meadows and ditches, that is, not your neighbor’s cluttered yard.

There are some ranchers and farmers nearby that choose to burn vast hay meadows to place much needed nutrients back into the ground to harvest ...