UK Forestry Extension

09/01/2026

This week on From the Woods Today, we're joined by Beth Williams, Kentucky Master Logger Coordinator, to discuss the importance of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in forestry and logging operations. BMPs help protect water quality, reduce erosion, and ensure that Kentucky's forests remain healthy and productive. Beth will share how these practices are implemented on the ground and why they play such a critical role in forest management.

Also on tap: Dr. Manisha Parajuli from Kentucky State University's School of Agriculture and Natural Resources joins us to discuss how drone technology is being used to monitor BMPs and give landowners a bird's-eye view of forestry practices.

Watch on FromtheWoodsToday.com on 9/2 at 11 a.m.

08/30/2026

Learn more about this Pesky Plant at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7yTEkfUbS8

08/29/2026

Do you own woodland or have an interest in forestry? Join us for the Kentucky Tree Farmer of the Year Field Day at Portia and Jerry Brown's Tree Farm in Grayson County!

You'll learn about: Forestry planning and management, building resilient forests through silviculture, and financial and technical assistance opportunities

Come see firsthand how active forest management can benefit your woods and future generations.

To register, scan the QR code or call 270-259-3492 or 859-257-7597.

08/27/2026

Cook Wild Kentucky was at the State Fair yesterday presenting a carp salad. Cook Wild Kentucky has the overall goal of increasing the awareness and use of Kentucky's wild game and fish.

The program is a partnership with Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and multiple departments and Extension teams within the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. If you would like to make this recipe visit https://kentucky-outdoors.mgcafe.uky.edu/2026-state-fair-recipe

08/25/2026

This week on From the Woods Today, learn why some areas are full of wildlife while others seem quiet. The answer often come down to how our landscapes are owned and managed. Join Jacob Stewart, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, as he explores how land ownership patterns and land-use decisions shape wildlife habitat across Kentucky. From family forests and farms to public lands and developed areas, every management choice influences where wildlife can find food, cover, and places to thrive.

Join us at FromtheWoodsToday.com on August 26 at 11 a.m.

08/24/2026

The Regional Cross-Laminated Timber Conference (RCLT) brings together professionals from across the forest products, construction, design, engineering, manufacturing, and economic development communities to explore the expanding opportunities in mass timber and cross-laminated timber construction.

Join us October 12-14, 2026, in Lexington, Kentucky, for three days of education, networking, and collaboration with leaders advancing modern wood construction.

https://kymasstimber.mgcafe.uky.edu/conference-2026 to learn more.

08/24/2026

In last week's episode of From the Woods Today, we explore solar kilns, a practical and sustainable option for woodland owners interested in drying their own lumber.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/Lc7r4zux_aI or link in bio.

08/22/2026

Meet the Winged Elm! Named for the distinctive corky ridges found along its branches, this adaptable native tree grows in woodlands and open areas across Kentucky.

Learn how to recognize the winged elm in our latest Tree of the Week segment: https://youtu.be/sXKbQecC9mc

08/20/2026

Dr. Ellen Crocker in the news...

A fungus that causes laurel wilt can kill a sassafras tree in just a few weeks, and it’s a disease threatening sassafras in Kentucky and other members of the laurel family across the nation.

University of Kentucky researchers are studying whether the fungus’ own natural defenses could be used to stop it. The research focuses on RNA interference (RNAi), a process that uses specially designed pieces of double-stranded RNA to silence genes essential for a pest or pathogen’s survival. Unlike traditional treatments that may affect many organisms, RNAi can be tailored to target a single invasive species.

“It’s like attacking a computer hacker with their own antivirus software,” said Ellen Crocker, UK Forestry associate professor. “You’re turning that system against itself.”

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4x8LM3e