Author: Courtney Jenkins
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
The timber industry is one of the largest industries in East KY. However, poor forest management throughout the years has left behind poortrees that are no longer commercial quality. Removing small-diameter timber isessential for allowing larger, healthier trees room to grow, but there are few,if any, markets for small-diameter hardwoods. Therefore, the Magoffin CountyCooperative Extension Service is working with local farmers to assist them inutilizing this timber in a way that diversifies the
Author: Bryce Roberts
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
On February 6th, 2018 UK Forestry Extension broadcast a live Logger Web TV Program to 25 counties strategically distributed around the state, from the Webcast studio in the Forestry Extension Office. Assistance from the county agents and supporting staff was critical to the success of this program. Counties opened their offices up, assisted with registration, answering and conveying questions, and much more. By hosting this Logger TV program from our webcast studio in the format that we did, we
Author: Terrance Conners
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
A bourbon barrel manufacturer has been having a problem with staves breaking when barrels are assembled. The company was breaking an average of 6 staves per barrel - in other words, they were breaking or having to rework about 18% of their production. Based on information from an out-of-state consultant, the company has been under the impression that the staves break because they are being dried too quickly or at too high a temperature. Chad Niman and I (Extension personnel from the UK Depa
Author: Mary McCarty
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
On February 6th, 2018 UK Forestry Extension broadcast a live Logger Web TV Program to 25 counties strategically distributed around the state, from the Webcast studio in the Forestry Extension Office. Assistance from the county agents and supporting staff was critical to the success of this program. Counties opened their offices up, assisted with registration, answering and conveying questions, and much more. By hosting this Logger TV program from our webcast studio in the format that we did, we
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
In the years following the tobacco quota buyout and the end of the tobacco program, farms in Eastern Kentucky have been focused on diversification and discovering new ways to generate revenue. This holds true not only for established farmers but also for those who are new to the area.One such new farmer contacted the Johnson Co. Extension Office for advice on enterprises to explore for a plot of roughly 30 acres with significant forest cover. After discussing the farmer’s plans and resourc
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
A bourbon barrel manufacturer has been having a problem with staves breaking when barrels are assembled. The company was breaking an average of 6 staves per barrel - in other words, they were breaking or having to rework about 18% of their production. Based on information from an out-of-state consultant, the company has been under the impression that the staves break because they are being dried too quickly or at too high a temperature. Chad Niman and I (Extension personnel from the UK Depa
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
Lumber manufacturing and sales are a significant contributor to the Kentucky economy and wood industries can be found in 110 of our 120 counties. The grading system in which hardwood lumber is bought and sold under is the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA), Hardwood Lumber Grading Rules. Forest industries in Kentucky have voiced concern that there is not enough skilled labor in the region with the knowledge and ability to understand the rules and apply them properly. If someone is not p
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
On February 6th, 2018 UK Forestry Extension broadcast a live Logger Web TV Program to 25 counties strategically distributed around the state, from the Webcast studio in the Forestry Extension Office. Assistance from the county agents and supporting staff was critical to the success of this program. Counties opened their offices up, assisted with registration, answering and conveying questions, and much more. By hosting this Logger TV program from our webcast studio in the format that we did, we
Author: Bobby Ammerman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
The Center for Forest and Wood Certification (CFWC)The Center for Forest and Wood Certification builds regional forest and wood certification capacity through the delivery of unbiased information; technical assistance; and the development of programs for landowners, loggers, and forest products industries to participate in certification in a sustainable and affordable manner.The Center focuses on providing solutions to certification bottlenecks, enabling the private sector to effectively pa
Author: Bobby Ammerman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
Cutting Board, Lazy Susan, Shaker box, Bird Houses, and Bird feeder Workshop Series (Mountain Monday, Mountain AG Field Day, WOSC):I conducted 5 of these workshops, 8/6/17, 9/6/2017, 9/15&16/2018, 9/26/17, and 5/2/2018. 295 people attended these workshops. Each participant made their own product and was able to customize it with lettering using the laser engraver. During the workshop we explained why these species of woods were chosen to produce these products. During these workshops I discu
Author: Bobby Ammerman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
Documenting the Kentucky Forestry Economic Impact 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 com
Author: Bobby Ammerman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association Meetings:There were two OVLDA meetings conducted in this reporting year. Each meeting lasted for two days. UK Forestry Extension personnel planned and facilitated each meeting. The fall meeting was held in Knoxville, TN at the Courtyard by Marriot Knoxville Hotel and Conference Center. The meeting included tours of Havco (truck flooring manufacturer), Genera Energy (biomass facility), and Benton’s Country Hams. The technical presentations include
Author: Bobby Ammerman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
The 2017 Kentucky Wood Expo:The Kentucky Wood Expo is a regional wood products show. The 2017 show was held in Lexington, KY at the Masterson Station Park on September 14 and 15. 2500 visitors attended the show. There were over 80 exhibitors at the show and all of them had a chance to demonstrate equipment and provided attendees hands on opportunities to operate everything from wood processing equipment to rolling stock. The Wood Expo also had a special program for school aged children whi
Author: Bobby Ammerman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
Tooling Design for the Wood Industry:This program started in 1998 and was developed to enable Kentucky manufacturers and entrepreneurs in the Secondary Wood Industry to take advantage of expertise and technically advanced equipment available through the UK Department of Forestry and the UK Wood Utilization Center. Nearly every producer of secondary “value-added wood products” uses a moulder to produce many of their products. These machines are very efficient and significantly reduce
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
There were two OVLDA meetings conducted in this reporting year. Each meeting lasted for two days. UK Forestry Extension personnel planned and facilitated each meeting. The fall meeting was held in Knoxville, TN at the Courtyard by Marriot Knoxville Hotel and Conference Center. The meeting included tours of Havco (truck flooring manufacturer), Genera Energy (biomass facility), and Benton’s Country Hams. The technical presentations included; Dr. Gene Wengert, retired Extens