Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Jeremy Williams
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The maple syrup industry has a long history in Kentucky but recent success with buying local and eating healthy has brought about a resurgence in maple syrup. Within the last eight years, the Harlan County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent has worked with neighboring counties to host local and regional educational events. The events include Backyard Maple Syrup program, Kentucky Maple Syrup School, regional maple syrup field days, and Kentucky Maple Day. These events have
Author: Stacy White
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Forests are very important to Kentucky both environmentally and economically. Nearly half of the commonwealth is forested. The economic impact of the forest products industry in Kentucky is nearly 14 billion dollars annually. The Whitley County ANR agent regularly conducts forestry trainings. These trainings span a gambit from elementary school classrooms to professional logger workshops. Often programs are presented at 4H Camp. One particular 4H camper took a
Author: Rebecca Konopka
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Grayson is known as “the heart of the parks” because of its proximity to three local state parks. A local leader heard about other counties offering hiking clubs while attending the Kentucky Volunteer Forum several years ago. After she approached the ANR Agent in 2020 about starting a hiking program in Carter County, the Hike & Learn series was created. Due to the pandemic, programming did not start until 2021. The ANR & 4-H Agents worked to
Author: Nathan Rider
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Bullitt County is 30% covered by natural forest--252Mha in total. In fact, from 2000 to 2020, Bullitt County experienced a net increase of 0.64% in tree cover.[1] Needless to say, most Bullitt County residents and landowners have access to trees. While some may only have one tree in their front yard, many landowners maintain at least a part of their properties in natural forest or partial tree cover.As residents of Bullitt County and surrounding counties seek options for farm diversification, in
Author: David Hull
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The number of small (10 to 20 acres) farms in Gallatin County has been increasing over the past several years. Many of these new landowners have approached the Gallatin County Extension Service with questions pertaining to possible income sources that could be derived from their small properties. As a result of these enquiries, the Extension Service hosted the first ever maple syrup workshops in Gallatin County.The Gallatin County Extension Service, in conjunction with Hartig Park and Wildlife R
Author: Adam Leonberger
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Crime, pollution, and storm water management continue to be major issues in urban areas across the country. A 2012 study in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning, Vol 106, Issue 3, found a 10 percent increase in urban tree canopy cover was strongly correlated with a 12% decrease of robbery, burglary, theft and shootings. In addition, the US Forest Service published a study in 2006 within the journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Vol 4, Issues 3–4 estimated that US urban trees rem
Author: Linda Hieneman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Woods and Wildlife for your Wallet is a program that was developed in Greenup County after forestry training was identified as a need by a local community member. A logic model was constructed by a group of local individuals and representatives from Cooperative Extension Service, Soil and Water Conservation District, Kentucky Department of Forestry and local FFA teachers. This group became a committee that formed partnerships to develop this training to educate landowners about the service
Author: Jacob Ison
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Dr. Lynn Skaggs DVM of Winchester, Ky contacted me to inform me he had found and purchased 31 Dunstan American Chestnut Trees. He asked if the extension office could assist with planting them and we accepted the task. In early November 2022 we picked up a few FFA/4-H kids that were interested in Natural Resources and sat out to plant the trees. While planting the trees the youth got a lesson on the history of the American Chestnut and how the American Chestnut Tree was once a very valuable
Author: Rebecca Konopka
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
According to the Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet, Kentucky is second in the United States for the most diverse hardwood species mix. Forty-eight percent or 12.4 million acres of Kentucky is forestland and eighty-eight percent of Kentucky's forestland is owned by private landowners. The 2017 Census of Agriculture shows that 38% of the farmland in Carter County is woodlands. Grayson is also known as the “heart of the parks” because of its close proximit
Author: Shad Baker
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The Kentucky Maple Day was launched by the UK Cooperative Extension Service (primarily through the efforts of the Letcher and Harlan Co. ANR Agents), UK Department of Forestry and private producers in 2020. The purpose was to raise public awareness for the budding industry and to help market a local woodland and agricultural commodity. Producers offered tours, exhibits and sells of syrup, cotton candy, pancakes, candy and maple baked goods. UK provided marketing, coordination, and collected data
Author: Susan Fox
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Extension can assist with teaching people about our natural resources, the stresses that are impacting them including climate change and the many ways that mankind is impacting the planet. There have been large decreases in bird, animal and plant populations in the recent decades. The EF4 tornado that passed through Lyon County was perhaps a result of the increase in extreme weather as a result of climate change. Educating people on how our natural resources and the impact we are having on them
Author: Reed Graham
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
For the past 22 years the Breathitt County Natural Resources Committee and Extension Office have partnered for an annual canoe trip down the north fork of the KY river. It's approximately a 10 mile trip from Douthitt Park to the Martha Layne Collins Bridge and there is a lot to see along the way. After the July 2022 flooding things were different along the way, and ANR agent Reed Graham along with Extension Water Quality Specialist Amanda Gumbert scheduled the trip to talk about those change
Author: Laurie Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Authors: Ellen Crocker, PhD. and Laurie ThomasThe Kentucky Master Naturalist (KYMN) program was developed by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension with valuable input from stakeholders at public and private organizations whose interests align with the mission of the KYMN program. The mission of the KYMN program is to develop a cohort of well-informed volunteers to advance education, research, and outreach efforts dedicated to the conservation and management of natural resources and na
Author: Laurie Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Authors: Ellen Crocker, PhD., and Laurie ThomasThe Kentucky Master Naturalist (KYMN) program was developed by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension with valuable input from stakeholders at public and private organizations. The mission of the KYMN program is to develop a cohort of well-informed volunteers to advance education, research, and outreach efforts dedicated to the conservation and management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the Commonwealth
Author: Laurie Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Kentucky Forest Leadership Program 2022 - 2023Authors: Laurie T. Thomas, Matt Springer, PhD., Blake Newton, Ashley Osborne and Amanda Gumbert, PhD.The Kentucky Forest Leadership Program (KFLP) is a collaborative effort of UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension, UK Entomology Extension, the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Kentucky Division of Forestry. The educational program managed and administered by UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension, Laurie
Author: William Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Simple Steps to Stewardship Landowner ProgramBy Dr. Amanda Gumbert and Billy ThomasUniversity of Kentucky Extension specialists in Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Forestry and Natural Resources partnered with KY Woodland Owners Association, KY Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, KY Division of Forestry, and Bullitt County Conservation District to offer a landowner workshop focused on introducing land stewardship practices. The workshop was targeted to new landowners or l
Author: William Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Woodland Stewards Educational Program By Billy ThomasThe University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Extension partnered with regional forestry Extension programs in North Carolina, Virginia, Clemson, Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and Southern Region Extension Forestry to plan and host a forestry webinar series that attracted woodland owner attendees from across the nation. The purpose of the Woodland St
Author: Michael Ammerman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Once a year, the Small Scale Logging Program showcases several pieces of small equipment available on the market that can be safely attached to a side-by-side ATV, farm tractor, or truck. These attachments lift the front of the log up off the ground reducing skidding impact to the ground and making skidding much safer and easier. The need for this program comes from small acreage properties, which are only sometimes economical for commercial loggers to harvest, requiring woodland owners and farm
Author: Ellen Crocker
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Forests are key to Kentucky’s economic and environmental wellbeing. The state is 47% forested with over 12 million acres of woodlands and, collectively, the forest sector contributes over $13.5 billion annually to the state’s economy and impacts over 60,398 jobs. However, a range of insects, diseases, invasive plants, and other issues threaten the sustainability of our forests, woodlands, and urban trees. For example, the invasive emerald ash borer alone is estimated to cost Ke
Author: Ellen Crocker
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Invasive plants are a major issue in Kentucky and beyond, impacting a wide range of habitats from forests to grasslands. Already there are many different invasive trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and herbaceous plants that cause problems in the state. In addition, new plants arrive each year. From recognizing new invasives to best practices in managing current problems, landowners and professionals need more information about invasive plants.To increase understanding of these issues an
Author: Ellen Crocker
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Callery pear, Pyrus calleryana, is an invasive plant that has become a major issue in the state of Kentucky. Bradford pears (a cultivar of callery pear) have been widely planted but, unfortunately, not only are these trees a poor choice for landscapes due to failure issues, they also produce seeds that invade natural areas, damaging the productivity and integrity of farms and forests. To raise awareness about callery pear (and other invasive plants), we developed the Kentucky Bradford Pear
Author: Ellen Crocker
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Tree Week is a week celebrating all things tree that happens each October in communities across Kentucky. Extension specialists and agents contribute to Tree Week in many different ways, from organizing events to delivering programs. This year, as in past years, the Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Team organized a webinar series to engage people in a broad range. This series featured seven presentations by a range of speakers addressing common tree questions including: Monday Oct 1
Author: Ellen Crocker
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The Kentucky Master Naturalist (KYMN) program was developed by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension with valuable input from stakeholders at public and private organizations. The mission of the KYMN program is to develop a cohort of well-informed volunteers to advance education, research, and outreach efforts dedicated to the conservation and management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Becoming a KY Master Naturali
Author: Ellen Crocker
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The Kentucky Master Naturalist (KYMN) program was developed by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension with valuable input from stakeholders at public and private organizations. The mission of the KYMN program is to develop a cohort of well-informed volunteers to advance education, research, and outreach efforts dedicated to the conservation and management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Becoming a KY Master Naturali
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Two Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association program meetings were hosted by University of Kentucky Forestry Extension personnel within this timeframe. One meeting was held in London, KY in the fall of 2022. This was our last meeting with UK forestry and wood products associate Bobby Ammerman as he sadly passed away shortly afterward from unrelated causes. The meeting was held at the Hampton Inn conference center and tours included BPM Sawmill and Robinson Stave and Cumberland Cooperage. This
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
UK Forestry and Natural Resources extension through our wood products team have been engaged in work with several large stave and cooperage facilities in Kentucky that were having significant moisture variation and breakage issues with barrel staves in their manufacturing process. Chad Niman working directly with the wood industry with drying and quality aspects of wood products manufacturing received multiple requests relating to drying and breakage issues that were rising in stave and cooperag
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
In 2022, 2 programs were delivered covering hardwood grading systems, hardwood lumber inspection, cant product specs, material handling, defects and characteristics, wood drying, and hardwood markets. This is a very focused and highly skilled forest and wood industry training for sawmill and wood industry employees. The trainings allowed 1 business to get up and going, and 2 others to expand their operation. The return from time and efforts focused in support of forest and wood industry training
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Kentucky ForestryWorks is an educational training and certificate program focused on forestry, wood industry and logging career opportunities and skillsets. The educational committee is busy promoting upcoming educational opportunities and resources available for high school students and teachers to learn more about the hardwood forests of Kentucky and the related career fields. Kentucky ForestryWorks is a partnership between UK Forestry Extension, Kentucky Division of Forestry, and Kentucky For
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
2022 marked 6 years of UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension celebrating the importance of forest products and the forests and people that provide them. Forest Products are incredibly important to Kentucky, as nearly half of Kentucky is in forest and the circular economy in Kentucky renew-ably contributes nearly $14 billion annually. Reading of the Governors proclamation for forest products week, free food and drinks, a from the woods presentation on forest products week all highlight
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Despite the ecological and economic advantages of using cross laminated timber (CLT) products, the North American building industry has been slow to adopt this emerging architectural component. The technology has been used in Europe and British Columbia for over 20 years. Many parts of the world have embraced laminated timber (CLT) and mass timber as components in large scale architectural projects. As cross-laminated timber is emerging across portions of the US, this region is far behind despit
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The cross-campus collaboration between Forestry, Architecture, Fine Arts, campus Arborists, the Office of Sustainability and others continues to make strides in utilizing trees that must be removed for public safety and construction purposes. The Campus Wood Program features a Lucas slabber and swing-blade sawmill under a pavilion constructed from campus wood and wood inventory storage within one of the old Vaughn warehouses. The collaboration has been featured multiple times for the educational
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Kentucky’s forests cover nearly half the Commonwealth but only scattered information had existed on the overall economic impact of Kentucky’s forest and wood industry. To address this shortfall, a team of faculty and staff from the University of Kentucky Departments of Forestry and Agricultural Economics (Drs. Jeff Stringer, Alison Davis, and Terrell Baker along with staff members Bobby Ammerman and Billy Thomas) worked closely to compile data from a wide variety of sources for the K
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
7 workshops were hosted at the Wood Center during this timeframe. During the workshops we explained why these species of wood were chosen to produce the product for each workshop. We also discussed/provided general information pertaining to forestry practices in Kentucky including the Kentucky Forest Conservation Act, food from the forest, and its impact on our forest and the economic impact the Forest Products Industry has on Kentucky’s economy. We take time to discuss the history of the
Author: Ellen Crocker
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Extension team launched the weekly online program From the Woods Today in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the program remains an important component of our forestry and natural resources Extension programming efforts (https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today). The From the Woods Today program features current information on woodlands and wildlife in Kentucky including presentations on woodland management, tree identific
Author: Grace Coy
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Each year, the UK Urban Forest Initiative, with support from Extension, hosts a 20-hour workshop called TreeCATs (Community Arboriculture Training). In 2023, 24 enthusiastic participants from various regions in Kentucky, including Lexington (Fayette), Georgetown (Scott), Berea (Madison), and Paducah (McCracken), came together to expand their knowledge and engagement in urban and community forestry (UCF). The majority of participants were students from UK and other higher education institutions i
Author: Darren Morris
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The White Oak Initiative’s Landowners for Oaks (LFO) Series was completed in 2022 and has since provided forest landowners and others with foundational information necessary for sustainable management of white oak and upland oak forests. These publications were designed to inform forest landowners of the overall importance of white oak and upland oak management. The series, currently numbering 11 publications, is a valuable educational and informative resource for foresters and forest mana
