Extension
It Starts With Us
Introduction of specialty markets
Natural Resources
Wayne Kirby
Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
The largest industry in Knox County is logging, or the harvesting of timbers. With the rising cost of machinery, it’s costing loggers more to harvest timber. On the other end of the spectrum, timber market prices are half of what they were five years ago. It’s become a lose-lose situation, where loggers are losing money due to increased production costs, and land owners are refusing to sell their timber due to decreased market value. Through education, Knox County Extension will help to provide assistance to the logging industry in Knox County.
Increased profit in the timber industry in Knox County for loggers and land owners.
Loggers will use new methods of timber production to decrease production expenses. They will also pursue specialty timber markets in order to increase sagging profits
Loggers/ land owners will become knowledgeable of the availability of specialty timber markets. Loggers will also learn new methods to decrease the expense of timber production.
Long-Term Outcome:
Indicator: Loggers will institute practices that will decrease the expense of timber production
Method: Testimonial/observation/practice/survey
Timeline: Winter-Summer
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Loggers/Landowner will recognize resources available & become knowledgeable of the availability of specialty timber markets.
Method: Sign in sheets/testimonials/surveys/observation
Timeline: Fall
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Loggers/Landowners will attend provided trainings
Method: Sign in sheets/testimonials/surveys/observation
Timeline: Fall
Audience: Loggers & Land Owners
Activity: Ag Newsletter & News Articles
Content: Environmental stewardship, best management practices, etc.
Date: Fall 2023/Spring 2024
Activity: Timber Harvesting Workshop and Demonstration
Content: Best Management Practices;
Date: Fall
Activity: Timber Marketing Diversification Workshop
Content: Marketing Techniques; Specialty Markets
Date: Fall
Activity: National Loggers Expo
Content: Educational display on best management practices
Date: Fall
Activity: Master Logger program
Content: Master Logger Certification & Master Logger CEU programs
Date:Fall 2023/Spring 2024
Author: Robert Kirby
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The Wilderness Trail Area ANR agents met in the spring of 2023 to begin planning a series of chute side beef programs. These programs were designed with the intentions to allow producers to stand along side agents at the working chute. Live demonstrations of beef quality care and assurance practices, reproduction procedures, weighing cattle, freeze branding and general management practices would be conducted chute side. The agent team discussed the fact that many times
