One Acre at a Time: Seminar covers value found in
woodlands

By Carol L. Spence

Stocks, bonds, IRAs and real estate are fairly common investment options for people wanting to build a nest egg. Nearly half of Kentucky’s real estate is covered in woodlands, however, and those woodlands are often overlooked as a valuable source of income. The seminar, One Acre at a Time, will address how a woodland investment can bring increased dividends by making the right forest management decisions.

Organized by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and the UK College of Agriculture’s Department of Forestry, One Acre at a Time will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. EDT, March 27 in the John W. Black Community Center, 1551 North Highway 393 in LaGrange. Whether they reside on their woodlands or are absentee owners, participants will come away from the seminar with clear directions on how to reap the benefits from their property.

“Kentucky’s woodlands produce some of the world’s most valuable hardwood trees, and they are a renewable product. Any land that has trees growing on it can continue to produce after a managed harvesting operation,” said Billy Thomas, UK extension forester. “Properly managed woodlands can provide numerous benefits for woodland owners.”

Registration will begin at 6 p.m. There will be food and exhibits at that time, with the program starting at 6:30 p.m. Seminar topics include:

• Got Woodlands? Now What?

• Wildlife Management Options

• Signs of Woodland Health Issues

• Working with Your Wildlife Biologist

• Working with Your Forester

• Timber Sales and Consulting Foresters

Registration is $5. Preregistration, which is encouraged, can be made in advance at any of the hosting county extension offices: Oldham, Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble. Participants also can register at the door the day of the event. Questions may be directed to the Oldham County Extension office, 502-222-9453 or UK Forestry Extension at 859-257-7597.

Co-sponsors of the seminar include Kentucky Division of Forestry, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky Chapter of the Association of Consulting Foresters, Kentucky Woodland Owners Association and American Tree Farm System.