Forestry & Wood Products Extension Program Overview
The Forestry & Wood Products Extension Program is led by dedicated faculty and staff focusing on areas like certification, dry kilns, wood identification, and more. Changes in the program include retirements, new hires, and shifts in clientele post-Great Recession. The program is seeking expertise in kiln shortcourses and Cross Laminated Timber panel testing to meet evolving industry demands.
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College or Agency Name Department or Agency Name Terry Conners Professor Wood Products Extension Bobby Ammerman Secondary Forest Products Specialist Chad Niman Primary Primary Forest Products Specialist
Describe your overall Forestry & Wood Products Describe your overall Forestry & Wood Products Extension or Outreach/Education program Extension or Outreach/Education program Number of faculty: Wood- 1 faculty, 2 professional staff (Forestry and Wildlife)- 2 faculty, 3 professional staff County-based: 0 Campus-based: 8 Areas of focus: certification, dry kilns, wood id, youth outreach, log and lumber grading, railroad ties, sawing. Funding sources (hard vs. soft money positions) Hard and RREA
What changes have been made in program in What changes have been made in program in the past 5 years? the past 5 years? Changes planned for next 5- Retirements and a new department chair in 5 years. New hires? Chad Niman, 3 years ago. Forest health position, hiring now. Wildlife position hired 2 years ago. Retirements? (plans to replace) Terry Conners (unknown) Bobby retiring in 7 years. Jeff Stringer? How has your clientele base changes since the Great Recession -Entrepreneurs not coming to us in droves like before. Industry has shrunk significantly. -Changing in KY from family owned businesses to corporate ownership. ~40% loss of sawmills.
What expertise are you missing that is most What expertise are you missing that is most often asked for? often asked for? -kiln shortcourse and demonstration -Cross laminated timber panel testing, who is doing current testing, existing barriers How do you fulfill those requests now? -Terry Conners works onsite and works with Phil Mitchell to put on a course at NC State. - We are fulfilling many needs but capacity will dwindle with retirement.
Top 3 to 5 most common requests (FAQs) -certification, anatomy and drying, youth education, lumber grading. And are you receiving requests for assistance with advanced manufacturing (scanning, optimization, robotics, automation, etc.) on the list? No How about Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, Big Data? No
What are your strengths? What are your strengths? - Good relationships with industry and state partners, a lot of knowledge currently, industry database. Examples of exemplary programs the flagship stuff -Center for Forest and Wood Certification -log grading, bucking, and merchandizing -lumber grading -youth programs; wood magic, win with wood, 4H -Support for drying associations -support for RTA seminar -logger education- KY Master Logger -wood machining -support for kiln course with Phil Mitchell -Non traditional markets: boat timbers(fuddocks, planking, knees), spalted lumber, slabs, ambrosia ash utilization. -wood anatomy and drying, portable sawmilling, small scale logging equipment demonstration.
Describe the 3 biggest challenges facing your Describe the 3 biggest challenges facing your program program Retirements Ability for broad training tailored to extension wood science/drying PhD within department. Pushback to carbon neutral message.
Describe the 3 biggest opportunities for your Describe the 3 biggest opportunities for your program program Beginning to see a trickle of entrepreneurs beginning businesses & integrating into the industry network. Wood drying- is universal across many industries. Companies currently have a strong need for trained employees.
