From the Woods Today

Thinking about selling timber from your woodland? Join Bill Knott with the Kentucky Division of Forestry as he shares valuable tips for landowners planning a timber sale, including how to protect your interests, maximize your investment, and ensure a successful harvest.

Also on tap...Laurie Thomas, UK Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension, helps us answer one of fall's most colorful questions: Why do leaves change color in autumn? Discover the science behind the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows that light up Kentucky's forests each year. Get practical woodland advice and fascinating forest science all in one episode!

There are many animal species in Kentucky that are more active at night, and some of them live in trees. Join Frannie Preston, UK Department of Forestry & Natural Resources - Extension, to learn about these nocturnal animals, their adaptations, and how they depend on the trees in your woodlands. Also on tap...Chad Niman, UK Department of Forestry & Natural Resources - Extension, joins us to discuss cross-laminated timber (CLT), what it is, how it is transforming the construction industry, and the growing opportunities it presents for Kentucky's forests including a conference being held October 12 -14 in Lexington.

Ever wondered if that black bird is a crow or a raven? Join us on Wings of Kentucky as Dr. DJ McNeil, UK Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, breaks down the key differences between crows and ravens, from their size and calls to their flight patterns. Plus, did you know there are two species of crows found in Kentucky? Dr. McNeil will also explain how to tell them apart!

Also on tap...Dr. Ellen Crocker, UK Department of Forestry & Natural Resources - Extension, joins us to talk about fall mushrooms, including what species you may encounter this season and why fungi play such an important role in Kentucky's woodlands.

Don't miss this fascinating look at two of nature's most intriguing subjects!

Looking for your next outdoor adventure? Check out Kentucky Outdoors, a new partnership between the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry & Natural Resources and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources focused on hunting, fishing, shooting sports, wild game cooking, and outdoor education. Join Dr. Matt Springer, Jacob Coleman, Andy McQueen, and Jann Knappage from the Department of Forestry & Natural Resources - Extension as they discuss how Kentucky Outdoors is connecting people with opportunities to hunt, fish, participate in shooting sports, and learn more about wild game preparation and outdoor recreation.

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.

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. Also on tap: Join Ellen Crocker, University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension, as she returns with another Pesky Plants segment featuring kudzu. Known as the "the vine that ate the South," this invasive plant grows rapidly, smothering trees, shrubs, and native vegetation under a blanket of dense foliage. Join us to learn more.

This week on From the Woods Today, learn how Kentucky wood products producers and landowners can benefit from the latest training and technical assistance available through the University of Kentucky Forestry and Natural Resources Extension. Join us as Chad Niman, Forest Products Specialist, covers recent support on a custom solar wood drying kiln project with a Kentucky landowner and also shares available resources for kiln drying support.

Also on tap: Laurie Thomas, University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension, returns with another Tree of the Week segment featuring winged elm. Found throughout much of Kentucky, winged elm is a medium-sized native hardwood known for the distinctive corky "wings" that develop along its twigs. Laurie will explore the tree's unique characteristics, ecological importance, wildlife value, and how to identify this species in Kentucky's forests.

Discover the many benefits and uses of biochar, a stable, carbon-rich material produced by heating organic matter in a low-oxygen environment. Join Dr. Manisha Parajuli of Kentucky State University's School of Agriculture & Natural Resources as she explains what biochar is, its many applications, the feedstocks used to produce it, and common production methods. Kentucky has an abundant supply of materials that can be converted into biochar, including invasive species such as Callery pear. Lori Bell, owner of Blue Turtle Permaculture, LLC and a 2025 graduate of the Kentucky Master Naturalist Program, shares her experience and provides a step-by-step look at creating biochar using a custom-built Kon-Tiki style kiln. Also on tap: Dr. Ellen Crocker with the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension, discusses laurel wilt, a destructive tree disease spread by the redbay ambrosia beetle that threatens members of the laurel family. Learn how the disease spreads, the symptoms to watch for, and what this emerging threat could mean for Kentucky's forests and landscapes.

Join Dr. Jonathan Larson and Dr. Hannah Tiffin, UK Entomology, as they share expert advice on identifying, controlling, and managing ticks on people and in woodland environments. Discover effective strategies to keep these pesky insects at bay, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable outdoor experience for you and your family. Also on tap: Japanese knotweed is a non-native invasive shrub that is native to several countries in eastern Asia. Also known as japanese bamboo, Mexican bamboo, and fleeceflower, it can form very dense stands that shade out, outcompete, and prevent the germination of native plants. Join us as Dr. Ellen Crocker, Forestry and Natural Resources, talks about how japanese knotweed spreads, tolerates a wide range of growing conditions and has the potential to become a much worse problem in Kentucky than it is currently.

Often mistaken for the Monarch, the Viceroy has its own fascinating story to tell. Join Jonathan Larson, UK Entomology, on this episode of From the Woods Today as he explores the biology, habitat, and unique adaptations of Kentucky's official state butterfly. Learn how to identify a Viceroy, and Monarch, how the Viceroy became our State butterfly, why it mimics the Monarch, and what woodland and riparian habitats are essential for its survival.

Also on tap: Join us as Laurie Thomas, University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension, explains the unique characteristics, ecology, and significance of a Kentucky native tree with another installment of Tree of the Week.

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