Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2025Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025
Campus Wood Program Continues to Give New Life to Old Trees (Managing and Upcycling Trees Removed From Our Campus Urban Forest
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
There is an abundance of urban wood in any city that ends up in a landfill or is underutilized. With our large and very mature canopy on UK campus trees are needing to be removed for many reasons, but life/health/safety take priority. 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 P
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Quality Forest and Wood Industry Program Training in Hardwood Markets and Grading Systems Saves/Earns Wood Industry $8.9 Million in 2023
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Hardwood grading systems provide a mechanism for agricultural products to be assessed and an economic value determined to conduct business. Training of employees and entrepreneurs to understand the details of grading systems is vital to a company staying in business. Only a few trainings of this nature are available in the region each year and the cost of training is quite expensive. In 2023, 2 programs were delivered covering hardwood grading systems, hardwood lumber inspection, cant produ
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White Oak Barrel Stave Seasoning and Degrade Assistance Continues- Over $50 Million Saved/Earned as Stave Drying Study Completed at the Wood Utilization Center in Breathitt County KY (RCARS)
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The Bourbon industry has been booming in Kentucky and long-term availability of White oak wood for barrels is a concern for the industry. This has emphasized the importance of efficient utilization of the White oak wood that stave mills and cooperages have in inventory. 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
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Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association Celebrates 40 years of Providing Wood Drying Education
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Drying of lumber is a meticulous process that can be very costly if done incorrectly. Thus, the need for knowledgeable kiln operators is vital as society and workforce shift with retirement of many very knowledgeable operators.The Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association celebrates 40 years of providing wood drying education throughout the Ohio Valley region and beyond. Two Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association program meetings were hosted by University of Kentucky Forestry Extension personnel with
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Teens Survive in Nature
Author: Lacey Kessell
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Describe the Issue or Situation.During the Pandemic, National and State Parks such as the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, Daniel Boone National Forest, Red River Gorge all experienced record numbers of visitors at their parks which led to a major increase in Search and Rescue calls due to lost or injured visitors. The demand put tremendous pressure an agencies responsible for visitor safety, to the point that they requested individuals not prepared or unfamiliar with the area stay hom
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Maple Syrup Production
Author: Jeremy Williams
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Kentucky's abundant maple trees present an opportunity for landowners to diversify their income and contribute to local economic growth through maple syrup production.The Harlan County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Kentucky Maple Syrup Association collaborated to provide educational programs on maple syrup production. These programs included a Backyard Maple Syrup program at the Kentucky Maple Syrup School and another held in Harlan County. A total
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Maple Day at Hitchel Farms
Author: Gregory Comer
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Native Americans made maple sap into maple sugar long before the Europeans arrived in America. U.S. consumers are demanding more natural, chemical free food sources. Thus, a rebirth of tapping trees for maple syrup in Kentucky. Hitchel Farms started making maple syrup about 5 years and is currently the only maple syrup producer in Ohio Co. Maple Day was created as an educational and celebration event centered around how maple syrup is produced. The program is coordinated statewide by the Un
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Harlan County Master Logger Education
Author: Jeremy Williams
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Harlan County is comprised of 259,784 acres of forest land, with 93% privately owned. Kentucky’s timber industry relies heavily on Certified Master Loggers to maintain a robust timber economy. Without certification, loggers cannot perform their jobs or meet industry objectives. Certified Master Loggers must receive six hours of continuing education credits every three years to maintain their certification.In response to this need, the Harlan County Agriculture and Natural Resources agent c
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Northern Kentucky Public Workers Tree Seminar
Author: DJ Scully
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Many public works employees are the ones tasked with on-the-ground tree care efforts. The Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service provide our local public workers with an informative seminar at a low cost to cover a wide range of topics relating to tree care, management, and safety. While geared toward public works, this event is also open to tree board members, local tree care companies, and the public.The seminar was h
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Invasive Plant Control Program
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Invasive plants have major biological, economical and aesthetic impacts on Kentucky by degrading native habitats, decreasing the richness of native species and contributing to the loss of biodiversity. Also, invasive plants may negatively affect the state’s economy when they effect forestry and agriculture production. Additionally, the removal of invasive plants typically requires a significant investment of time and money. Questions or concerns about controlling invasive plants is a
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Appalachian Apple Tree Grafting
Author: Lane Hall
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
In eastern Kentucky, we are seeing a decline orchards and fruit tree operations. As a result of this, a lot of locally produced apples are going away, as well as heirloom varieties. One solution to the preservation of these is grafting new trees. Hopefully as a result, the public will grow interest in growing fruits of there own as well.The Lawrence County Cooperative Extension Office has provided a yearly tree grafting class for some years now. We provided 4 different disease resistant apple va
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Remove Invasives Partnership
Author: Anna Claire Rogers
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
KSU Forestry and Natural Resources Invasive Species Removal ReportEast Frankfort Park | Autumn 2024 – Spring 2025Kentucky State University’s Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) program has continued its partnership with the Remove Invasives Partnership, the Frankfort-Franklin County Joint Task Force on Invasives, and Frankfort Parks and Recreation to combat invasive plant species in the woodlands of East Frankfort Park.These efforts focus on the removal of highly invasive species su
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Farm profits really can grow in the trees
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Grant County, Kentucky, with its rich woodland resources, has historically been rooted in agriculture. According to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, the county had 811 farms covering 96,780 acres, with 20% classified as woodland . However, economic challenges and a decline in traditional farming practices have prompted the community to seek alternative, sustainable sources of income.Recognizing the untapped potential of maple syrup production, local organizations, including the University of
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Cultivating Creativity and Community through Wreath-Making in Grant County
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
In 2024, the Grant County Cooperative Extension Office partnered with a local farm family, Miles Christmas Tree Farm, to host a wreath-making workshop aimed at promoting sustainable forestry use. With over 26,000 acres of forest in Grant County, the program taught 35 participants how to responsibly harvest natural materials like cedar, pine, and grapevine to create decorative wreaths.Participants learned tree identification, sustainable pruning, and marketing basics for selling wreaths locally.
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