The timber industry is one of the largest industries in East KY. However, poor forest management throughout the years has left behind poortrees that are no longer commercial quality. Removing small-diameter timber isessential for allowing larger, healthier trees room to grow, but there are few,if any, markets for small-diameter hardwoods. Therefore, the Magoffin CountyCooperative Extension Service is working with local farmers to assist them inutilizing this timber in a way that diversifies the local food system andmaximizes profits. 

Shiitake mushrooms have proven to be a new commodityproviding economic return in East Kentucky. As home and commercial growers havebecome increasingly curious about producing this gourmet mushroom, many farmershave relied upon Extension for the education they need to add mushroomcultivation to their operations. 

In 2017, 24 local farmers participated in the shiitakemushroom production workshop, the first in more than 10 years at the ExtensionOffice, and each participant inoculated a shiitake log to take home. Seven ofthose producers took their education to the next level and cut small-diameterhardwoods from their own farms and inoculated even more logs at home. Onefarmers’ market grower inoculated more than 50 logs in hopes of producingenough to sell at the market in 2018. 

At the 2018 workshop, 29 farmers attended, 16 of whom wereparticipating in an Extension workshop for the first time, and learned thebasics of shiitake production and inoculated their own log(s). Four of theseparticipants plan to add shiitake production to their repertoire. 

As a result of the workshops: 1.) 100% of the participants agreed that the program was relevant to their needs, and was based on credible, up-to-date information, 2.) 100% agreed that that the hands-on portion of the workshop was well-delivered and relevant, 3.) 90% of the participants were learning about shiitake mushroom production for the first time, 4.) 75%reported being comfortable using the necessary tools and were confident in cultivating, growing, harvesting, and storing the mushrooms, 5.) 50% plan to diversify their operations by adding shiitakes, 6.) 20% of the participants have already inoculated logs to add this new enterprise to their farm operation and farmers' market stand.