From the Woods Today
Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, is a reminder of the importance of caring for Kentucky’s forests and the benefits they provide. It’s also a good time to revisit forest health challenges, including the impact of the emerald ash borer. In this edition of From the Woods Today Katherine Bullock, UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension helps us learn the history behind Earth Day and why we celebrate it each year. Also on tap...Dr Ellen Crocker, UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension, talks about the invasive insect emerald ash borer...
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Owning woodland comes with both opportunities and challenges. In this episode, Dr. Ellen Crocker and Billy Thomas with the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension discuss the key issues woodland owners face and how to navigate them successfully. Learn how to address them and who can assist you on your woodland stewardship journey to make your property healthier and more productive. Also on tap: What do you think about From the Woods Today? We invite you to share your feedback by participating in a short survey that is part of a research study. The...
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Severe weather is a fact of life in Kentucky, with tornadoes being one of the most dangerous—and misunderstood—threats we face. In this episode, Matt Dixon, senior meteorologist with the UK Ag Weather Center, breaks down the basics of tornadoes, explaining how tornadoes form, what conditions are right for their development, and what the Fujita (EF) Scale really means when we hear tornado ratings like EF-2 or EF-4. While on the topic of tornadoes, Matt also discusses common tornado myths, including the dangerous belief that taking shelter under highway overpasses is safe. Matt explains why...
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Ever heard that cutting only the largest trees is good for a forest? Billy Thomas, UK Forestry & Natural Resources - Extension, calls that bluff on this April Fools Edition of From the Woods Today. Billy will break down one of forestry’s most common and costly myths. Also on tap…Dr. Steve Price, UK Forestry & Natural Resources Department Chair, takes on common misperceptions about Kentucky’s amphibians and reptiles — including frogs, salamanders, turtles, snakes, and lizards. We’ll also hear from Dr. Matt Springer, UK Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension,...
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In this episode of From the Woods Today, we dig into what’s happening beneath our feet. Chris Wiedamann from the Kentucky Division of Forestry joins us to explain how tree roots really grow and where most of a tree’s root system actually is. If you’ve ever pictured roots as a mirror image of the branches above, you’ll want to tune in—Chris clears up some of the biggest misconceptions about what’s going on underground. Also on tap… Dr. Amanda Gumbert with UK Forestry & Natural Resources - Extension talks with Laura Gregory from the Kentucky Waterways Alliance about her...
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March 22 is World Water Day, a global reminder of how essential clean, fresh water is to our lives, forests, wildlife, and communities.This week on From the Woods Today, we’re celebrating by highlighting innovative efforts that help protect and understand this vital resource. We are celebrating the importance of fresh water by spotlighting a project where local students use real programming skills to help protect their own community’s drinking water sources. Dr. Tiffany Messer, Gatton Foundation Endowed Chair and Associate Professor tells us all about this water wise project. Also on...
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Are freezing winters or hot summers enough to wipe out bugs? Join us on From the Woods Today as entomologist Dr. Jonathan Larson digs into this popular myth and shares what really happens to insects when temps soar or plunge! Also on tap... You’ve probably seen its early spring blooms lining roadsides, neighborhoods, and fields—but those pretty white flowers hide a much bigger story. Join Dr. Ellen Crocker, Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension, as she gives us another edition of Pesky Plants. If you’ve seen these trees or are trying to deal with them on your own property —...
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This week, Dr. D.J. McNeil from UK Forestry and Natural Resources returns with another installment of Wings of Kentucky, where he’ll introduce us to one of our most fascinating feathered friends—the woodcock. Learn what makes this bird so special and why Kentucky provides important habitat for its survival. Also on tap...Dr. Amanda Gumbert will be speaking with Nicole Clements, Watershed Coordinator for Banklick Creek Watershed, about activities they have done to restore and protect water quality in northern KY. 3.4.26 For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit . Each...
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This week on From the Woods Today, we’re welcoming Alexandra Blevins, Forest Health Specialist with the Kentucky Division of Forestry. Alexandra will kick things off by explaining what invasive species are and why they are such a threat to Kentucky’s forests. Also on tap...Alexandra will walk us through some of the most common invasive pests, diseases, and plants affecting our woodlands—and what you can do to help slow their spread. Whether you’re a landowner, nature-lover, or just curious about forest health, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! 2.25.26 For more...
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Silvopasture is the intentional integration of forages, livestock, and trees into a managed system. While there are many benefits of silvopastures, the single most important may be enhancing animal welfare by providing shade during the summer months and shelter during the winter months. This presentation by Dr. John Fike, Virginia Tech, will provide an introduction to, and an overview of, silvopasture use in transition zone states like Kentucky that have tall fescue based grazing systems. Also on tap... The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can help Kentucky woodland and pasture...
info_outlineThis week, the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) will explore ways to assist landowners in maintaining forest health. Special guest Alexandra Blevins, a forest health specialist with KDF, will share the various resources and support available to you!
Also on tap...Dr. Ellen Crocker, University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension, will join us for another edition of Pesky Plants, Tree-of-Heaven and spotted lanternfly.
For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today.