Author: Chad Niman
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
Lumber manufacturing (primary industry and sales are a significant contributor to the Kentucky economy. We know that the more cabinets, flooring, molding/millwork, and furniture (secondary manufacturing) made from the lumber produced in Kentucky, the more jobs and money that the wood from our forests generates to provide for the Commonwealth. Local wood keeps local forests healthy and productive. Primary and wood industries can be found in 110 of our 120 counties. The grading system in which bil
Once a year the Small Scale Logging Program showcases several pieces of small equipment options available on the market that can be easily operated by hand or safely attached to a ATV, side-by-side, farm tractor or truck. The length and depth of material included in the show depends on the year as every 2 years the Kentucky Wood Expo occurs, so we put on a shorter version, more of a small scale logging equipment demo at the expo. The real magic happens on years when the Wood Expo is not hap
I am on the board of directors for the Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association. I help set up and do a portion of the planning and organizing for the meetings. This activity includes such things as determining meeting location, speakers and agenda, locations and accommodations, tours spots, keeping the membership roster up to date and organized, and the development and maintenance of a website to promote upcoming events and meetings, a list of drying publications that are available through t
Author: Bobby Ammerman
For the first time since starting the CFWC and the beginning of its activities, the Center has been asked to help with procuring American Tree Farm timber for the entry into a Kentucky supply chain for the eventual production of a PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certified barrel. As a result of the request, I have worked with Chris Will, the consulting forester working the tree farmer, S&S Stave, Kelvin Cooperage, and ITL on the development of the certified
General maintenance and keeping directory updated. Was awarded a grant for nearly $25,000 from the Kentucky State Wide Energy Team for the purpose of updating the directory and surveying the industry to determine how much biomass is being generated by our secondary wood industry in the state and how the biomass/waste is being used/disposed.To date update forms have been mailed to all secondary industries listed in the directory asking them to return the updated forms. We have also used the
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I am the secretary/treasurer for the association and responsible for basically managing the association. I coordinate the membership, set up and do most of the planning and organizing for the meetings. This activity includes such things as determining meeting location, speakers and agenda, locations and accommodations, tours spots, keeping the membership roster up to date and organized, and the development and maintenance of a website to promote upcoming events and meetings, a list o
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
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 participate and benefit from certification. The Cente
I conducted 4 of these workshops, 9/22/2018, 10/18/2018 4/16/19, and 6/4/2019. 148 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 discussed/provided general information pertaining to forestry practices in Kentucky including the Forest Conservation Act and its impact o
Author: Terrance Conners
A small company in Lexington, KY saws lumber from urban street trees, which it then dries and makes into specialty goods such as live-edge (i.e., bark-on) full-width slabs, shelves, etc. They also make custom furniture, specializing in wide live-edge tables. I've been working with this company since they started a few years ago, particularly with teaching and assisting them with wood drying. For the past several years they have been using a Dehumidification (DH) dry kiln, but this kiln has c
Author: Brian Jeffiers
The forests of eastern Kentucky are well-populated with wild ginseng. Harvesters dig the crop and sell through authorized dealers, who then ship the product elsewhere to distributors. Those dealers are a vital part of the system, ensuring that only sustainably-harvested root enters the market. When the Kentucky Department of Agriculture approached Johnson County Extension about hosting a workshop for dealers, it was an obvious fit for the area. Two dealers attended the daylong session, in w
