47% of Kentucky's 25 million acres are forested. Over three-quarters of those forested acres are privately owned by individuals, with a total of 423,000 private citizens owning those lands. Many landowners desire to generate income from their acreage, even in between timber harvests.Interest in medicinal herbs and natural remedies continues to grow across the US and Kentucky, home to some of the most biologically diverse woodlands in the world is primed to benefit. The Letcher County Extension Service has offered workshops and demonstrations on medicinal herbs for years and clientele have expressed strong and growing interest.  Specifically, the office began a series of programs focused on growing ginseng, selecting the right production technique, proper harvest, site selection and techniques to minimize theft and losses to pests. Additionally, the office has offered demonstrations, provided at-cost seed for experimenting with production without the high start-up risks, and on-farm visits for help with customized technical assistance. To date, 20 producers have begun their own ginseng plantings. These producers have planted a combined 2.5 acres of ginseng over the past three years, which upon reaching maturity will be valued at over $88,205. This year, the office partnered with GROW APPALACHIA to host a Medicinal Herb Forum. The purpose of the forum was to gauge support for an association that would work to expand the industry, help develop markets for viable crops, and to work with officials to modify state regulations directed at trade in herbs.

As a result of the workshop, producers reported new plans to expand their plantings, to begin discussions on the formation of an association, and have started an herb social media site. Producers have also requested Extension materials on herb production.