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 (EAB). In 2009, EAB was discovered in Shelby County, KY and it has killed millions of ash trees across the state ever since. 4.22.26 To view the video for this podcast go to FromTheWoodsToday.com

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 survey takes no more than 5 minutes to complete. Participants must be 18 years of age or older. No compensation is provided, but your input will help us better understand our audience and improve future programming. Thank you for helping us grow From the Woods Today! Want to participate now? Visit FromtheWoodsToday.com and click on the link. 4.15.26 For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today. Each episode has the video of the segment at the website.

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 some long‑held assumptions about tornado safety can put people in danger instead. Also on tap: the Kentucky Division of Forestry's Tornado Strike Team plays a critical role in helping woodland owners assess storm-related damage. Forest landowners, homeowners, and municipalities or communities impacted by the December 2021 tornadoes can access technical forestry assistance and additional forestry services through this team. 4.8.26 For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today. Each episode has the video of the segment at the website.

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, as he dives into the clever survival strategies animals use to avoid predators, such as faking injuries with "broken wings," playing dead, mimicking venomous species, and even using themselves as bait. This April Fool's edition mixes myth‑busting with a closer look at how forests and nature really work. 4.1.26 For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today. Each episode has the video of the segment on the website.

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 work supporting watersheds and waterways across Kentucky. We'll also hear from Dr. Ellen Crocker, UK Forestry and Natural Resources -Extension, who talks alittle about ash trees and emerald ash borer. 3.25.26 For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today Each episode has the video of the segment at the website above.

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 tap... Dr. Amanda Gumbert, UK Forestry & Natural Resources - Extension, joins us to talk about Water Week and the events that are occuring. Bridget Abernathy, Kentucky Division of Forestry, will also be discussing the 130th Arbor Day Ceremony at the State Capital in Frankfort on April 3. You won't want to miss this event! 3.18.26 For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today. Each episode has the video of the segment at the website above.

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 — Ellen's guidance provides the tools you need to take action with this invasive tree. 3.11.26

For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today. Each episode has the video of the segment at the website above.

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 https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today. Each episode has the video of the segment at the website above.

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 episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today. Each episode has the video of the segment at the website above.

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 landowners establish silvopasture through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which typically reimburses up to 75% to 90% of eligible costs. Join us as Kentucky NRCS State Forester Jon Shultz discusses how landowners can access EQIP for their property to establish silvopasture and other conservation practices. 2.18.26

For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today. Each episode has the video of the segment at the website above.

Kentucky's forests are full of incredible wildlife—but some of the most fascinating birds are the ones hiding right on the trunks of trees! This week on From the Woods Today, Dr. D.J. McNeil, UK Forestry and Natural Resources, highlights the fascinating world of bark‑clinging birds, including our energetic nuthatches and hardworking woodpeckers. These species are vital to forest health, helping control insects, create habitat, and play a key role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. Also on tap...Beyond their beauty, many of our native wildflowers have traditional meanings rooted in folklore, culture, and generations of connections to the land. Want to learn about what these blooms have symbolized throughout history? Don't miss this segment with Anna Wiker from the Kentucky Master Naturalist Program, who will explore this fascinating subject and share the traditional meanings and symbolic roles that flowers have held over time. 2.11.26 For more episodes of From the Woods Today, visit https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today.