Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

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Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Cooperative Extension Service

Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Impacts

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Fiscal Year: 2025

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Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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 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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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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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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Park Tree ID Tags

Author: Rebecca Konopka

Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization

Park Tree ID Tags

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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Tips for Selling Your Timber

Author: DJ Scully

Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization

Tips for Selling Your Timber

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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Invasive Species Education and Management

Author: DJ Scully

Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization

Invasive Species Education and Management

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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ForestryWorks Kentucky - Field Course

Author: Laurie Thomas

Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization

ForestryWorks Kentucky - Field Course

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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Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
S107 Ag. Science Center North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
+1 (859) 257-4302

© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment