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 2024
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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Working around Poison Ivy
Author: Thomas Miller
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
BTC, our local telephone and internet provider was interested in doing a training for their staff on poison ivy. They must have regular safety meeting for their personnel to remain compliant with their governing board. They contacted Tom Miller, Ballard County Agent for ANR to determine the possibility of the presenting a program. Mr. Miller present the training in their conference room for 25 employees. The training consisted of a description of poison ivy and how to iden
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Strengthening Forestry Practices Through the Kentucky Master Logger Program in Magoffin County
Author: Kristen Stumbo
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Logging is a key economic driver in Eastern Kentucky, but it also presents serious safety, environmental, and regulatory challenges. Many loggers and landowners lack access to formal training that equips them with the knowledge and skills to operate safely, sustainably, and in compliance with state laws. The Kentucky Master Logger Program was developed to address these needs through comprehensive, accessible education.To meet the growing demand for certified training in the region, the Magoffin
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Master Logger Web TV
Author: Gregory Comer
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The timber industry in Ohio County is of major economic importance to both landowners, with about 49% of the county’s landmass still in trees, as well as, employers, with 7 wood industry facilities in the county. Kentucky’s largest primary wood industry, Dunaway Timber, is also located in the county. These primary wood industries are supported by the 30-40 Master Loggers located in Ohio County, which must maintain a level of educational CEU’s to remain in business.
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Tips for Selling Your Timber
Author: DJ Scully
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
In the fall of 2024, the Campbell County Agriculture Extension Agent approached me about developing a program for farmers about selling timber. She had been hearing that loggers were contacting them offering money for timber and they didn't know if they were getting a good deal. This lead to the development of a program that was featured in the Spring 2025 KY Woodlands Newsletter, Vol. 34, NO. 2. https://www.kwoa.net/post/newsletter-spring-2025 - the newsletter of the KY Woodlands Owners Ass
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Tree Week Webinar Series
Author: Laurie Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Success Story: Extension Tree Week Webinar Series, Oct 2024 Tree Week is a week celebrating all things tree-related that happens each October in communities across Kentucky. Extension agents and specialists contribute to Tree Week in many different ways, from organizing events in their communities to delivering programs to serving on the Tree Week Planning Committee. Several of these include: Tree Week Webinar Series:This year, as in past years, the Forestry and Natural Res
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Teaching About Climate and the Environment with PLT, WET and WILD
Author: Laurie Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Success Story: Teaching About Climate & the Environment – Project WET, WILD, & Learning Tree Educator Workshop (Agent In-Service Training)A two-day workshop was conducted in February as part of agent in-service training. A total of 23 participants (4-H and ANR agents and assistants) were trained in the nationally known environmental education curriculums, Project Learning Tree, Project WET and Project WILD. In addition to the core educational training, the second day of t
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ForestryWorks Kentucky - Field Course
Author: Laurie Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Success Story: ForestryWorks Field CourseThe forest industry in Kentucky is facing many challenges, including a decreasing workforce. The forest industry workforce is decreasing due to generational retirement, lack of recruitment, and lack of training opportunities.The ForestryWorks Forest Worker Certificate Program was created to promote awareness of and provide educational training for the forest industry. The Forest Worker Certificate Program includes 10 training modules that cover a wide ran
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Invasive Species Education and Management
Author: DJ Scully
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The Campbell County Extension Environmental Advisory Council identified invasive species and their management as a top priority educational issue at their meeting on 11/26/24. Sixteen members participated. DJ Scully, Campbell County Extension Agent for Natural Resources and Environmental Management supports the City of Fort Thomas and the Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy by participating in their annual Earth Day Celebration (the largest Earth Day event in northern Kentucky). This year’s eve
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Park Tree ID Tags
Author: Rebecca Konopka
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Describe the Issue or Situation.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 2022 Census of Agriculture shows that 33% of the farmland in Carter County is woodlands. The county seat of Carter County, Grayson, is known as the
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Every Acre Counts KY (EACKY)
Author: Jacob Muller
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Every Acre Counts KY (EACKY) is a developing state-wide community of practice that utilizes partnerships with organizations who engage woodland owners, with the goal of facilitating active forest management stewardship on forested acres in Kentucky. Advancing active management among woodland owners in Kentucky could include opportunities like technical assistance, workshops, publications, resource hubs, and other knowledge-sharing or re
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Southern Appalachians Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment
Author: Jacob Muller
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
University of Kentucky Forestry Extension, along with the USDA Forest Service, The Natural Conservancy, and several other organizations, are leading the Southern Appalachian Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment project. The project focuses on providing vulnerability assessments of forested ecosystems and resources under different climate scenarios within the mountainous regions of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, based on the best availabl
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2025- Kentucky Invasive Plant Conference, Nov 2024
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 iss
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2025- Kentucky Forest Health Conference, Feb 2025
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
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2025- Kentucky Master Naturalist Volunteer Program, Online Training 2025
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
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2025 Kentucky Woodland Owners Short Course
Author: William Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Kentucky has an estimated 280,000 family woodland owners who own 10 or more acres. These mostly family owners own over 75% of the 12.3 million acres of woodlands in Kentucky. Unfortunately, these family woodlands are facing unprecedented threats from invasive insects, invasive plants, poor timber harvesting practices, woodland fires, and timber theft/trespass. These owners are mostly individuals, joint owners, or family partnerships (family forest owners) and they control more than 8,500,000 woo
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Kentucky Forest Sector Economic Contribution Report
Author: William Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Each year the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resource Extension documents and reports on the economic contribution of Kentucky’s forests and forest industry. Woodlands or forests cover approximately half of Kentucky; farmers and families own most of these woodlands. These woodlands provide many environmental benefits and support a diverse forest industry that is a key part of Kentucky’s economy. The forest industry in Kentucky is spread out across the state
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From the Woods Today, 2025
Author: William Thomas
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Extension coordinates and hosts a weekly online program called From the Woods Today (https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today). This program is an important component of our forestry and natural resources Extension programming efforts. The From the Woods Today program features current information on woodlands and wildlife in Kentucky including presentations on woodland management, tree identification, invasive species, forest
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Small Scale Logging - Extension Associate
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
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ForestryWorks Kentucky Curriculum and Field Course
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The forest industry in Kentucky is facing many challenges, including a decreasing workforce. The forest industry workforce is decreasing due to generational retirement, lack of recruitment, and lack of access to training opportunities.The ForestryWorks Forest Worker Certificate Program was created to promote awareness of and provide educational training for the forest industry. The Forest Worker Certificate Program includes 10 training modules that cover a wide range of topics about forestry. Hi
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Wood Utilization Center Programs: Providing Community and Industry Forest and Wood Training
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Despite forests and woodlands covering nearly half the land surface of Kentucky, educational programs combining forestry, wood utilization/manufacturing, forest health and related topics are limited.Community and industry training programs held at the University of Kentucky's Robinson Wood Utilization Center reached over 1,422 people in 2024. According to post survey results participants report large amounts of knowledge gained as many have never thought deeply about the environmental benefi
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Regional Mass Timber Conference and Market Development Initiative
Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Kentucky, the land of large timber barns and warehouses continues to remain in last place in the US for development of mass timber buildings and construction supply chain.A team comprised of 3 colleges at the University of Kentucky has been working since 2016 to test and advance additional hardwood species that could be used to build cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and other mass timber products. The team hosted our 2nd regional conference with over 115 participants showcasing across campus
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Planting trees for Frankfort's Future
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
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Temporary Logging Bridges Improve Water Quality and Logging Access Across Kentucky
Author: Michael Ammerman
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Context:Forests cover nearly half of Kentucky’s land area, and timber harvesting is a critical component of the state’s rural economy. However, traditional logging operations often require stream crossings that can contribute to sedimentation, erosion, and long-term water quality degradation—especially in Eastern Kentucky’s steep terrain. Many small and underserved logging operations lack the resources or equipment to install elevated, BMP-compliant crossings. In response
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