Cooperative Extension Service Shelby County Newsletter

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1117 Frankfort Road ● Shelbyville, KY 40065 ● (502) 633-4593 ● Fax: (502) 633-6713 ● www.ca.uky.edu

AUGUST

JULY AG Programs

WOODLAND SHORT

COURSE

LEADERSHIP IS

M.O.R.E.

CAPITAL CLASSIC

STEM DAY July 10

PINTEREST DAY

July 17

FOOD-A-RAMA

JULY 25

(Details on page 7)

HORTICULTURE

Master Gardener Orientation

Controlling destructive Insects

Honeybees or Yellow Jackets?

(See pages 4 & 5 for details)

Kids in the Kitchen Thursday, July 12 9-11 a.m.

Thursday, July 12 1-3 p.m.

Driver Safety for Over 55 Thursday, August 23 12:30—4:30 p.m.

Farmers Market Demos Saturday, July 14, 8-11 a.m.

Saturday, August 11, 8-11 a.m.

See page 2 for more information on Kids in the Kitchen and Driver Safety

Sit and Sew If you enjoy sewing, you are invited to the Sit and

Sew Days at your Shelby County Extension

Office. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. people will be

sewing on Thursday, July 26, and on Tuesday,

August 21. Bring your current sewing project and

lunch. Spend a summer day sewing!

Kids in the Kitchen Youth (ages 5 – 12) are invited to participate in

this year’s Kids in the Kitchen, a delicious, fun,

learning adventure! The youth will enjoy

hands-on cooking experiences and nutrition

education. Registration is required for this free

program Thursday, July 12, at your Shelby County

Extension Office. Call 633-4593 to reserve your

child’s spot in the 9 – 11 a.m. session or the

1 – 3 p.m. session. Space is limited to 45 youth

per session.

Want Lower Car Insurance? Plan to attend the AARP Driver Safety Program

for drivers age 55 and older on Thursday, August

23 from 12:30 until 4:30 p.m., at your Shelby

County Extension Office. Please call 633-4593 for

more information and to reserve a space. A

Kentucky Law requires that car insurance

companies give a reduction in premium to drivers

55 and older who complete an authorized driving

course. Check with your insurance company!

Beginning Sewing Classes Shelby County’s Master Clothing

Volunteers will teach a Beginning Sewing Class

from 3 to 8 p.m. on September 4 and October 2.

Mark your calendar if you would like to learn to

sew! For intermediate sewers, the September

project is an origami seven-pocket purse and

October’s project is a pinafore apron. Call 633-

4593 to get the sewing project supply lists.

State Fair Demos Stop by the textiles area at the Kentucky State Fair

to visit the Shelby County Extension Homemakers

and friends who will be doing the following

demonstrations:

Needlework, from 10 a.m.—2 p.m. August 23

Caning, from 10 a.m.—2 p.m. August 24

Calling All Homemakers!!! You are invited to an Indoor Summer Picnic at

11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 9, at your Shelby

County Extension Office. Just bring a salad to

share. Drinks will be provided. Following lunch

we will have an hour of Homemaker Updates and

Goal Setting. This training will be beneficial for

all homemakers. We hope to see you August 9, as

we make exciting plans for our new homemaker

year. Call 633-4593 to RSVP.

Homemaker Adventures! Reservations are coming in for this summer’s

Homemaker Trips. We are going to the following

locations …

* The Dinner Detective—July 14

* The UK Arboretum—August 22

These trips are open to all Shelby County

Extension Homemakers. If you would like to join

us on some of these learning adventures, just

become a Shelby County Extension Homemaker

and pick up the trip information and registration

form. We have 10 Shelby County Homemakers

planning to go on the “Georgia Mountain Fall

Festival” trip on October 17—19. Join them!

Safe Canning Practices

Keep Everyone Healthy Gardens are beginning to bear the fruits of our labor.

Soon, it will be time to start thinking about preserving

some of the excess produce for winter months. Safety is

of utmost importance for those of us who will be

preserving food, because, let’s face it, no one wants to

get sick from poorly processed food.

Bacteria, molds and yeast can grow quickly on

fresh foods, and fruits and vegetables contain oxygen

and enzymes that can cause food to spoil. Safe home

canning methods help prevent the growth of these

bacteria, yeast and molds in addition to removing

excess oxygen from the food, which destroys spoilage

enzymes and helps form strong vacuum seals on the

jars.

You should remember several key points of proper

food preservation to keep yourself and your family

healthy and safe from botulism, which can be a deadly

form of food poisoning.

Despite what you may find on the Web or social

media, only two methods are acceptable for home

canning safe, quality products. They are the boiling

water canning method and the pressure canner method.

The type of food you are preserving will dictate which

method to use. Boiling water canners can be used on

fruits and other products that have a high concentration

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F AM I L Y

&

CON S UME R S C I E N C E

S

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Articles By: Sheila Fawbush Cooperative Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences

F AM I L Y

&

CON S UME R S C I E N C E

S

of acid, such as salsas or pickles with enough lemon

juice or vinegar added. Acid helps prevent the growth

of harmful bacteria in canned food. Vegetables,

poultry and meats do not contain enough acid to

prevent the growth of bacteria. For these foods, a

boiling water canner will not reach a high enough

temperature to destroy the bacteria that can cause

botulism, so you must use a pressure canner to ensure

safe processing.

Make sure to use up-to-date equipment that’s in

proper working condition. It’s never a good idea to

purchase a pressure canner at a yard sale as

replacement parts and manufacturer’s instructions may

be no longer available. Pressure canners made after

1997 were designed with more safety features and

weigh less than older canners. Follow the

manufacturer’s instructions on canner care and

maintenance. For dial gauge pressure canners, the

accuracy of the gauge should be tested each year. This

can be done at your local extension office.

Remember to always use tested, research-

based recipes to preserve foods. These recipes are

available in Cooperative Extension Service home

canning publications, in the U.S. Department of

Agriculture’s Complete Guide to Home Canning or on

the National Center for Home Food Preservation’s

website. Follow each recipe as closely as possible. Do

not make additions or changes unless options are

provided in the recipe. Not following the recipe

precisely or using a recipe that is not research-based,

may not completely kill all bacteria and result in

sickness.

Use only Mason-type canning jars and self-

sealing lids. Do not reuse old jars like those that

previously contained peanut butter or mayonnaise.

After processing, allow the jars to cool naturally. This

helps form a good vacuum seal.

Source: Debbie Clouthier, extension associate,

University of Kentucky

Visit your Shelby County Cooperative

Extension Service office where home canning

publications are available (also online at

Shelby.ca.uky.edu). They cover the basics of safe

home canning and provide tested recipes for canning a

wide range of products — everything from jams and

jellies to soups and stews. You’re sure to find recipes

that will please your family!

Keep cool in the summer heat In the midst of summer, Kentucky’s extreme temperatures,

high humidity and prolonged heat can make being outdoors

uncomfortable and dangerous. During this time, it’s

important for you to know the signs and symptoms and

prevent heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat

cramps and the most serious heat-related illness, heat stroke

(also known as sun stroke).

Heat-related illnesses occur when a person’s body

cannot properly cool itself. These illnesses can occur at any

age, but people who are old, young and obese, and those

who have compromised immune systems or abuse alcohol

and drugs are at increased risk. Even people on certain

medications, such as antihistamines and antipsychotics are

more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

Older adults are at risk for many reasons. Sweat

glands, which help cool the body, often diminish in number

with age, and those remaining may not function as well as

they once did. Existing health problems, especially

involving the heart, lung and kidneys, and some medications

can also increase older adults’ risk of heat-related illness.

You can take steps to protect yourself and your loved

ones from overheating. Here are some tips from the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention:

*Keep up-to-date on the weather forecast,

and stay in your home or another air-conditioned

facility, such as a mall, public library or heat-

relief shelter, if the temperatures and humidity are

forecasted to be extreme.

*Avoid strenuous outdoor activities, such

as exercise or gardening, during the heat of the

day. *Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of

water, fruit or vegetable juices. Drink even when

you are not thirsty. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

* Wear loose, lightweight and light-

colored clothing.

*To keep your house cooler, refrain from

using your oven and cover windows that receive

direct sunlight.

* Take cool showers or baths to help

yourself cool down. Know the signs of overheating—dizziness, fatigue,

lack of coordination, cold and clammy skin, thirst,

headache, nausea, muscle spasms and/or cramps and ankle

swelling. Seek immediate medical attention if you

experience signs of heatstroke. Heat stroke is a potentially

life-threatening condition that requires medical

attention. Signs of heat stroke include high body

temperature, confusion, changes in behavior, fainting (or

feeling faint), staggering, rapid or weak pulse, dry or

flushed skin and lack of sweating despite the heat.

If you are a neighbor, friend or family member of an

older adult, regularly check on them during warm days and

extended/excessive hot periods to make sure they are

staying cool, hydrated and that they have access to air

conditioning. Seek immediate medical attention if you think

someone has signs of a heat-related illness.

Source: Amy Kostelic, associate extension professor,

University of Kentucky

Master Gardener orientation

Anyone interested in becoming a Master

Gardener should attend an orientation session

on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 6:30 at the Extension

office. The session will cover the dates and

times of the next set of classes, costs,

obligations – and how much fun it is! If you

can’t attend, you can have a private session by

appointment before Aug. 13. Please let us know

if you plan to attend the orientation by calling

633-4593 or email walt.reichert@uky.edu.

Invasive plants

Many of our woodlands, gardens and lawns are

under assault by plants that are invasive. Some

of those plants are natives that

get out of control, but most are

exotics brought to the U. S.

accidentally or on purpose.

Learn how to identify and

control some of the most

common and obnoxious

invasive plants from Dr. Ellen Crocker, UK

Extension Forestry professor on Thursday, July

26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cooperative Extension

office. Weather permitting, we may take a field

trip to Clear Creek to see invasive plants up

close and personal. The class is free but we ask

that you register by calling 633-4593.

Three bad boys

Most insects are harmless or actually beneficial

because they kill bad insects. But there are a

few that zero in on our vegetables, flowers,

trees and shrubs and need to be controlled. Here

are three you are likely to have to deal with in

the next few months:

Stink bugs: Stink bugs are shield-shaped

insects that do most of their damage in the

vegetable garden. A few stink

bug species are harmless and

actually beneficial, but several

do damage when they suck

juices from tomatoes, peppers

and other fruits with their piercing mouthparts.

And because they have a hard exoskeleton, they

can be hard to kill with most insecticides

available to homeowners. If possible, monitor

for them starting in July and pick them off

whenever found. Dispose of them any way you

see fit – two flat boards work. Sevin will also

kill them but you need the 50 percent strength.

Try to avoid spraying blooming plants with

Sevin because it kills pollinators.

Japanese beetles: Japanese beetles are

copper-colored insects that

emerge in mid-June and hang

around until early August

when they become the

C-shaped grubs that infest our

lawns. As adults, the beetles can defoliate

ornamental trees, shrubs and some perennials.

They are particularly attracted to plants with

purple leaves. They also do most of their

feeding in the tops of plants because they like

being up in the sun. They also damage fruit

such as peaches and blackberries, but except for

those, most of the damage is cosmetic – looks

ugly but really doesn’t harm the plant all that

much. If possible, covering plants for the six

weeks of their stint above ground works. Sevin,

malathion or spinosad also works against them.

If plants are blooming, spinosad is the best

choice; it is less likely to harm pollinators.

Spider mites:

Spider mites love hot, dry weather, so they’re

out and about now. Like stinkbugs, they

damage plants, usually ornamentals such as

evergreens, by sucking juices from leaves and

stems. Spider mites are almost microscopic, but

you will often see webs when there are large

numbers of them. Damage looks like the leaves

have become bronzed or stippled. Spider mites

don’t like humidity, so one control is to simply

hose off the plants with a blast of water.

Malathion, insecticidal soap or horticultural oil

also works. Read labels because many

insecticides do not work on mites.

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H O R T I C U L T U R E

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Articles By: Walt Reichert Horticulture Technician

H O R T I C U L T U R E

Keep trees watered

If you planted trees or shrubs this

spring, be sure to keep them well

-watered through the summer and

even into fall if rains fail. Plants

need an average of an inch of

rain per week; if we don’t get that, be prepared to

supplement. Plants are best watered deeply at the

root line; spraying the entire plant invites

disease. If you must spray the entire plant, with

an overhead sprinkler for example, be sure to do

it during the morning hours to give the plant a

chance to dry off before dark. Ideally, new trees

and shrubs should be kept well-watered through

the first two years of their planting. And in

severe drought, even mature trees and shrubs will

benefit from a deep watering. Many times trees

that experience drought will decline and die

several years after the event, which often leaves

homeowners puzzled about what happened to the

tree.

Honeybees or yellow jackets?

Lots of calls come into Extension during the

summer regarding controlling (aka killing)

stinging insects. Be aware that most insects that

sting do so only when crushed or stepped on or

when they are defending their hives or nests.

Also be aware that most stinging insects are

beneficial; they eat insects such as caterpillars

that harm our plants. But if you are allergic to

stings, then you need to take precautions,

especially against yellow jackets, which will

defend their nests ferociously and in large

numbers.

Before discussing controls, make sure

you know the difference between

yellow jackets and honeybees.

Honeybees are very beneficial insects

and are having enough problems with

mites and disease without our adding to their

troubles by dousing them with insecticides.

Honeybees and yellow jackets are about the same

size, but honeybees are a duller brown/yellow,

while yellow jackets are bright yellow with clear,

crisp horizontal stripes across their abdomens.

Honeybees are fuzzy; yellow jackets are not.

Both will defend their nests ferociously but

honeybee swarms or hives are usually obvious

and if you stay away they will leave you alone.

Yellow jackets, on the other

hand, nest in the ground,

sometimes in mulch or under

rocks where they might be

accidentally disturbed. When they sense

disturbance, yellow jackets will attack en masse

and can repeatedly sting. They will even follow

you quite some distance, stinging all the way.

If you find a swarm of honeybees in an

inconvenient place, call Extension and we can

contact a beekeeper who can safely remove the

swarm. If you spot a yellow jacket nest (You will

see them coming and going from a hole in the

ground.) stay clear of it if you can. If the nest is

in a place that you can’t avoid, then you may

want to destroy the nest. You can have a

professional do the job, or you can do it yourself.

But wait until dark and don’t shine a flashlight

down the nest or they’ll come swarming out.

Pour as much of a powdered insecticide down

the hole as you can. As the insects come and go,

the insecticide will kill them and the rest of the

colony. Destruction may take a few days. Please

do not pour gasoline down the hole. Never a

good idea.

Fall gardening

Many vegetables grow better and taste better

when grown during the warm days and cool

nights of fall. Those would include broccoli,

cauliflower, kale and various greens, cabbage,

turnips and carrots. Seeds of those can be started

in early to mid-August for transplanting in early

September or seeds can be sown directly in the

ground starting in late August. The trick is to

keep the plants well-watered as September and

October can be the driest times of the year. The

UK publication Home Vegetable Gardening in

Kentucky has a table of which crops do best in

fall and how to grow them. Let us know if you

need a copy.

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4 - H

Y O U T H

D E V E L O P M E N T

4-H Floral Hall Class Champions

Arts and Crafts

Class 727A: Junior Acrylic Still Life

Erin Shuck

Class 728A: Junior Watercolor

Emma Kendall

Class 731A: Junior Self Portrait

Hannah Hogg

Class 748A: Junior Color Pencil

Opal Best

Class 757A: Junior Clay Container

Opal Best

Class 763A: Junior Art Trends- Mixed Media

Opal Best GRAND CHAMPION

Class 763B: Senior Art Trends- Mixed Media

Destiny McDonald

Crops

Class 600: Alfalfa Hay

Madeline Perry

Class 604: Mixed Hay

Blake Wilson GRAND CHAMPION

Electricity

Class 654: Wired for Power Lamp

Kyle Stine GRAND CHAMPION

Food Preservation

Class 862: Salsa

Bristol Wallace

Class 863: Dill Pickles

Shelby Wallace

Class 864: Strawberry Jam

Bristol Wallace

Class 865: Green Beans

Shelby Wallace GRAND CHAMPION

Foods

Class 841: Three Oatmeal Muffins

Lilly Phillips

Class 842: Three Cheese Muffins

Hannah Hogg

Class 843: Three Rolled Biscuits

Katie Stine

Class 844: Three Scones

Katie Stine

Class 845: Three Cornmeal Muffins

Katie Stine

Class 846: Three pieces of Coffee Cake

Laura Vidourek

Class 848: Three Brownies

Katie Stine

Class 847: Three Chewy Granola Bars

Kyle Stine

Class 849: Three Snickerdoodle Cookies

Elaina Hamilton

Class 850: Chocolate Cake

Katie Stine

Class 851: Carrot Cake

Kyle Stine

Class 853: Apple Pie

Katie Stine GRAND CHAMPION

Class 856: Oatmeal Bread

Kyle Stine

Class 857: Honey Wheat Bread

Katie Stine

Class 858: Chocolate Fudge

Erin Shuck

Home Environment

Class 890: Simple Cloth Item for the Home

Kaleb Barnes GRAND CHAMPION

Class 893: Decorative Item for the Home

Opal Best

Class 895: Cloth Item for the Home using a

sewing machine

Destiny McDonald

Horticulture

Class 244: Blueberries

Bristol Wallace

Class 566: Dish Garden

Kendra Wilson

Class 235: Green Onions

Shelby Wallace

Class 571: Herb Container Garden

Justin Lyons

Class 568: Annual Container Garden

Erin Shuck GRAND CHAMPION

Class 569: House Plants

Kendra Wilson

Class 573: Upcycle Container Garden

Maddie Burbage

Needlework

Class 833: Quilted Mat

Emma Kendall GRAND CHAMPION

Class 813A: Crochet

Erin Shuck

Photography

Class 770: Black and White

Abby Hodder

Class 771A: Rule of Thirds

Opal Best

Class 772: Space that Tells a Story

Nikiya Smith

Class 781C: Shape and Form

Opal Best

Class 782A: Expression through Color

NIkiya Smith

Class 782B: Expression through Color

Opal Best

Class 786: Black and White Horticulture

Abby Hodder

Class 787: Color Horticulture

Abby Hodder GRAND CHAMPION

Class 788: Sequence of 4 Photographs

Horticulture

Abby Hodder

Class 789: Horticulture Collection

Abby Hodder

Sewing

Class 790A: Unit 1Non-Clothing

Adison Barnes

Class 790B: Unit 1 Clothing

Stella Thomas

Class 791: Unit 2 Clothing

Emma Kendall

Class 792: Unit 2 Non-Clothing

Erin Shuck

Class 793: Unit 3 Clothing

Opal Best JR GRAND CHAMPION

Class 795: Stretch your Knit

Maddie Burbage

Class 803: Match it Up

Katie Stine SR GRAND CHAMPION

Tobacco

Class 5: Flying

Shelby Wallace

Class 6: Lug

Bristol Wallace

Class 7: Leaf

Shelby Wallace

Class 8: Tip

Bristol Wallace Class 15: Best Crop

Shelby Wallace GRAND CHAMPION

Trends

Class 1050: Junior Upcycling Project

Erin Shuck

Class 1051: Senior Upcycling Project

Destiny McDonald GRAND CHAMPION

If your items qualified to go to the State Fair,

we will send you a letter with details about

entering your project. The Kentucky State Fair

is August 16-26. Cloverville has moved to the

South Wing this year and will be a part of new

section called Ag Land.

4-H Food -A- Rama

All 4-H members are invited to participate in

4-H Food-A-Rama on July 25 at 10 a.m. This is

a fun cooking contest for youth. Participants

bring in their favorite recipes so our judges can

evaluate their dishes and make their selections.

While the judges are at work, a demonstration is

presented on a foods topic for the attendees.

Afterwards, participants sample all the dishes

and vote on their favorites. Prizes are awarded

in each category and a Grand Champion is

selected. The participants also vote on a

“Taster’s Choice” award for a special prize.

Bring your completed dish and two copies of

the recipe for the contest. A 4-Her may enter as

many items as he or she want. A Cookbook of all

the entries will be sent to the participants

following the contest.

STEM Day

Shelby County 4-H is hosting a special

STEM Day for 4-H Members interested in

Science, Technology, Engineer ing and Math.

The class will be held on July 10 from 9 a.m. to

noon at the Shelby County Extension Office.

Our Summer Intern will lead 4-Hers through

hands on activities including DNA Extraction,

Magnetic Slime, Physics Fun and more!

There is no cost for this program but space is

limited. Please call or stop by the Extension

Office to register.

4-H Pinterest Day

On July 17, Shelby County 4-H will be

conducting a “Pinterest Day” for 4-Hers. All

members that attend will have the opportunity to

make pom-pom rugs, create a wax painting and

complete a string art project.

The class will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the

Extension Office. There is a $5 fee that covers

all three projects. Space is limited, so sign up as

soon as possible if you are interested in

attending.

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Articles By: Regina Browning Cooperative Extension Agent for

4 - H

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Woodland Owners Short Course Make plans to join us for this year’s

Woodland Owners Short Course (WOSC), hosted

by Jerry and Portia Brown and Shelby County

Extension Service on Saturday, July 28, 9 a.m. – 5

p.m. This program is a great opportunity for you

and your family to learn how to enhance your

woodlands and

get the most from

your ownership

experience. Most

woodland owners

are not aware of

the wide variety

of organizations

and programs

available to help them care for their woodlands.

Do you have questions about: how to receive a

fair price when you sell your timber, making your

woodlands wildlife friendly, or simply making

them as healthy as they can be? If you want to

maximize your woodlands and get answers to

your questions about them then the WOSC is right

for you!

The WOSC is designed to assist

Kentucky’s woodland owners in the care and

management of their woodland resource and is

conducted on a regional basis with full Saturday

programs in the East, Central, and West regions of

the state. The regional programs have been

developed by local planning committees with

local needs in mind and cover a wide variety of

subjects. The WOSC offers two programming

tracks: green for woodland owners just getting

started and gold for those already actively

managing their woodlands. The WOSC is one of

the best woodland owner educational

opportunities available in the state and anyone

with an interest in forestry or wildlife

will benefit from attending.

For more information and to

register, contact the Shelby County

Extension Office at 633-4593.

Leadership is M.O.R.E. Based on the success of and positive

feedback from 2017’s inaugural class, the

Leadership is M.O.R.E series will be offered

again in 2018. Leadership is M.O.R.E. is

designed to encourage and facilitate the

development of skills and to foster the self-

confidence needed to accept leadership roles

within Extension and the community as a whole.

A large part of being a leader is

recognizing and encouraging leadership

development in others. Leadership is M.O.R.E

will aid participants in not only developing their

own leadership skills, but also in taking an active

role in facilitating leadership development among

their peers.

Leadership is M.O.R.E is a four-part series

beginning on Wednesday, September 12 from 6—

9 p.m. Remaining sessions will be held on

consecutive Wednesdays, September 19, 26 and

October 3. Session topics will include: Color

Me a Leader, Speaking to Be Heard, Meetings

That Matter, and Becoming MORE

The Leadership is M.O.R.E program is

open to anyone, including those outside

Extension. If you or someone you know would

like to participate, please call 633-4593 to register

for this valuable training program.

Capital Classic Heifer Sale The Capital

Classic Heifer Sale will

be held on Friday,

October 26, 2018 at

United Producers

Stockyards in Owenton,

KY . The sale is

currently accepting consignors of bred heifers

meeting the KDA Herdbuilder guidelines.

Heifers will be screened for quality and must be

guaranteed safe in calf. For more information or

to receive a consignment packet with complete

guidelines, please call 633-4593.

Good Neighbors Farm Tour Mark your

calendars, it’s almost

here! The sixth

annual Shelby

County Good

Neighbors Farm

Tour will be held on

Saturday, September 15 from 9 a.m.—4 p.m. at

various farms around the county!

We have nine amazing farms who have

agreed to open their gates to give you a glimpse of

Shelby County’s oldest industry—agriculture!

The Farm Tour has received rave reviews for the

A G R I CUL TURE

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past five years—don’t miss your chance to see

what all the excitement is about! For more

information, call 633-4593.

Opportunities for landowners to

maximize their woodlands Maximizing every bit of profit from a farm

is one of the keys to success. One thing that may

not be at the top Kentucky landowners’ minds is

their farm’s woodlands. You should be thinking

about and managing your woodlands just like

crops, fields, gardens or other agricultural

endeavors. You can benefit by understanding the

forest industry and learning basic forestry

concepts, such as how to control light and

density and how to manage pests to steward a

healthier, more sustainable forest.

Timber owners may also realize important

tax benefits and take advantage of available

secondary markets for nontimber products such

as hunting leases, ginseng, shiitake mushrooms

and fence posts.

Private citizens own approximately 88

percent of Kentucky’s timberland. It is one of

the largest agricultural and natural resource

industries in the state. The statistics are

impressive: Kentucky consistently ranks in the

top three hardwood producing states in the

country and ranks first in the South for sawlog

and veneer production. More than 12 million

acres, almost half of Kentucky’s land base, are

forested. According to the U.S. Forest Service,

the total economic impact of Kentucky’s forests

and related industries contributes more than $12

billion each year to the state’s economy, and it

employs more than 51,000 people.

Most of Kentucky’s forests consist of

hardwoods, with oaks, yellow poplar, hickories,

ash, cherry and walnut contributing to the

economic value of the forest industry. Red

maple is the most common individual tree

species, accounting for a little more than 12

percent of all Kentucky trees.

Woodlands also are valuable for providing

habitat to a wealth of wildlife. These woodlands

also serve as a backdrop for much of the

recreational and tourist activities in the state.

Another important contribution of woodlands,

but harder to put a dollar figure on, are the

ecosystem services, such as water and air

filtration, carbon sequestration and flood control,

they provide.

More than 11 million of Kentucky’s

forested acres are classified as timberland,

meaning they are capable of growing

commercial timber at a rate of 115 board feet of

wood volume per acre per year. (A board foot is

12 inches by 12 inches by 1 inch). Logging in

Kentucky is renewable, as tree growth in the

state exceeds annual timber removal. The

industry also ensures that commercial operations

have a Master Logger graduate on-site and

follow best management practices for protecting

water quality at harvest sites.

Sawmills and other industries produce much

less waste than in the past. Advances in

machinery and utilization of sawdust and bark

residue have fueled a significant reduction in

waste. Now, mulch, fuel, composite wood

products, charcoal and animal bedding are

products of leftover wood, reducing the

industry’s impact on the environment.

Anyone, who is interested in learning more

about how to realize a potential economic value

from forested land, has many resources. The

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension

Service offers technical training classes and

programs, professional forestry workshops,

technical publications, logger training and more.

The annual Woodland Owners Short Course, a

yearly learning conference with three locations

across the state, is coming up in July and

August. Visit http://forestry.ca.uky.edu/wosc for

more information.

For more information, visit http://

www.ukforestry.org or contact the Shelby

County Cooperative Extension Service. Source: Billy Thomas, UK extension forester

Meeting Season is Coming! It may not seem like it

right now, but Extension meeting

season is just around the corner.

Beginning in September and

lasting through April, the bulk of

Extension educational courses will be offered.

This year we have several new and exciting

programs in the works. Watch future

newsletters and our Extension Facebook page so

you don’t miss any of the fun!

Articles By: Corinne F. Belton Cooperative Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

A G R I CUL TURE

PAGE 10

C A L E N D A R

O F E V E N T S

PAGE 11

JULY

10 HORT Master Gardener Association, 6:30 p.m. Extension Office

10 4-H 4-H STEM Day, 9 a.m. Extension Office

12 ALL Kids in the Kitchen, 9-11 a.m. & 1-3 p.m. Extension Office

14 FCS Homemakers Trip—Dinner Theater, 4:45 p.m. Louisville KY

14 FCS Farmers Market Sampling, 8—11 a.m. Fairgrounds

17 4-H 4-H Pinterest Day, 9 a.m. Extension Office

17 AG Cattlemen’s Association, 7 p.m. TBS

20 FCS Homemaker Trip—Belle of Louisville, 10:30 a.m. Louisville KY

25 4-H 4-H Food-A-Rama, 10 a.m. Extension Office

26 HORT ID and control of invasive plants, 6:30 p.m. Extension Office

26 HORT Shelby County Beekeepers, 7 p.m. Extension Office

26 FCS Sit and Sew, 9 a.m.—3 p.m. Extension Office

28 AG Woodland Short Course, 9 a.m. Extension Office

30 ALL Extension Council, 6 p.m. Extension Office

AUGUST

1 HORT Master Gardener orientation, 6:30 p.m. Extension Office

4 FCS First Saturday Walk About, 8:30 a.m. Family Activity Ctr

9 FCS County Homemaker Council, 10 a.m. Extension Office

9 FCS Homemaker Welcome Back Potluck, 11:30 a.m. Extension Office

11 FCS Farmers Market Sampling, 8—11 a.m. Fairgrounds

14 HORT Master Gardener Association 6:30 p.m. Extension Office

16-26 ALL Kentucky State Fair Louisville

21 FCS Sit and Sew, 9 a.m.—3 p.m. Extension Office

22 FCS Homemaker Trip—UK Arboretum Lexington KY

23 HORT Shelby County Beekeepers 7 p.m. Extension Office

23 ALL Driver Course for over 55, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Extension Office

23 FCS State Fair Needlework, 10 a.m.—2 p.m. State Fair

24 FCS State Fair Caners, 10 a.m.—2 p.m. State Fair

SEPTEMBER

1 FCS First Saturday Walk About, 8:30 a.m. Family Activity Ctr

4 AG/HO Agriculture / Horticulture Council, 6 p.m. Extension Office

4 FCS Sewing Circle, 3-8 p.m. Extension Office

KEY

4-H 4-H Youth

Development

AG Agriculture

HORT Horticulture

FCS Family and

Consumer

Science