UK Forestry and Natural Resources forest and wood products extension has been engaged in work with several large stave and cooperage facilities in Kentucky that was having significant moisture variation and breakage in their manufacturing process. Chad Niman working directly with the wood industry was made aware of manufacturing and drying issues that were rising in stave and cooperage facilities in response to increased global bourbon demand and as a result an enormous increase in barrel production. Chad coordinated site visits with a team consisting of Dr. Terrance Conners, Bobby Ammerman and Doran Howard to evaluate practices in use and provide recommendations in the form of 2 reports which were authored by Dr. Conners and reviewed by the wood team. Follow up with the industry determined that cost savings from information provided from those site visits and evaluations were approximately $8 million annually. These visits and service provided were foundational to the development of a “Stave Degrade Research Study” evaluating moisture variance within and amongst staves and stave stacks, and testing treatment methods for reducing degrade in the form of surface checks. The study is expanded to include 3 of the largest and most prominent stave and cooperage industries in the state, all of which have a global footprint.

An important component of this effort has been the successful development and implementation of an external “Stave Industry Advisory Committee” with knowledgeable industry professionals to collaborate and aide in the development of current and future research. This work has direct ties to the "White Oak Initiative" and active partners.

Cost and material savings continue to be made at the industry partner facilities and impacts from recommendations and changes to yards and drying methods are now estimated to be over $9 million annually, as collaboration between stave and cooperage industry professionals has allowed for more improvements.