Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Kentucky's Forests: A Conversation with State Forester Brandon Howard
37 Plays4 hours ago
In this episode of Hort Culture, we speak with Brandon Howard, Kentucky State Forester, about the state's vital forests. We discuss the Kentucky Division of Forestry's role, the challenges facing our woodlands like invasive species, and the importance of sustainable management practices. Brandon highlights the crucial role of urban forestry and community engagement, offering advice for landowners and sharing his vision for the future of Kentucky's forests. We also explored the division's crucial role in fire management throughout Kentucky, and learned about their operation of two tree nurseries with an online order system for easy access to native trees. We delve into practical steps for responsible forest management, resource accessibility, and the ongoing efforts to ensure the health and longevity of our state's invaluable natural resources.
UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Forestry Seedling Sales
Kentucky's Invasive/Nuisance Species
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources
Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu
Recommended
Transcript
The Charm of Kentucky Weather
00:00:25
Alexis
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home. That's the song that's been playing in my head because it is warm outside and I'm so excited that it's warm outside and the sun is out and it's not windy as I'll get out.
00:00:36
Jessica
The snow is melted.
00:00:38
Alexis
There's melted snow. Everything's flooded and muddy, but.
00:00:40
Plant People
We should, now wait a minute. We're saying all of this and we should always say as of this recording, because it is March in Kentucky and it might be snowing, it could be 70 degrees.
00:00:49
Jessica
It's true.
00:00:50
Plant People
Either one. We are in a transitional zone.
00:00:51
Alexis
That's true, that's true.
00:00:52
Plant People
So yeah, yeah.
00:00:53
Alexis
Yeah. I know we don't like to like put specific things, but you know, when it's this beautiful right now, you just have to talk about it. Okay.
00:01:00
Plant People
You do.
00:01:01
Alexis
Don't, don't bring, don't drag me down.
00:01:01
Plant People
You do. Hey, as of this recording, the sun is shining.
00:01:02
Alexis
Right.
00:01:05
Plant People
What's temperature at? don't know, 60 plus degrees here.
00:01:08
Alexis
Yeah.
00:01:08
Jessica
Yeah, it was like, what, 20 last week or lower negatives, right?
00:01:08
Plant People
Yeah. Yeah.
00:01:12
Alexis
it It was single digits at my house last week during the night.
00:01:17
Plant People
And snow forecasted for next week, maybe just a little bit of snow. So this is perfect.
00:01:20
Alexis
It's fine.
00:01:21
Plant People
I mean, this is perfect.
00:01:21
Alexis
It's fine.
00:01:22
Plant People
This is Kentucky.
00:01:22
Alexis
Everything's fine. I have tulips for video recording.
00:01:23
Plant People
It is indeed. Oh, those are very nice.
00:01:26
Alexis
So you, if you're, yeah.
00:01:27
Plant People
Are those tulips that you grew?
00:01:29
Alexis
So, you know, little sunshine in our life. um All right. Who, what is your favorite spring thing to see? I'm going to ask everybody on the pod.
00:01:41
Plant People
Oh, man.
00:01:41
Alexis
Jessica, your favorite spring thing.
00:01:42
Plant People
Somebody's going to take it. So I'm going to say, ah yeah, i'll see I was going go straight to daffodils.
00:01:43
Alexis
I'm not even saying flower. I'm saying thing.
00:01:46
Jessica
Oh, I went to flower instantly. Go ahead.
00:01:48
Alexis
That's,
00:01:48
Jessica
You, Ray.
00:01:50
Plant People
e or Let me call them by the colloquial term, ah ah Easter lilies. But dave yeah, yeah.
00:01:54
Alexis
What? Not Easter lilies. Narcissus.
00:01:56
Plant People
Yeah.
00:01:56
Alexis
What are you talking about?
00:01:56
Plant People
ah Yes, narcissus.
00:01:57
Jessica
so those those are two different things.
00:01:58
Plant People
I'm using all of the other terms, the local terms that I hear them called.
00:01:59
Alexis
Yeah. Easter lilies.
00:02:02
Plant People
Yeah.
00:02:02
Jessica
People call them buttercups, right? But they're not, because we all know what the other buttercups are.
00:02:05
Plant People
Yeah. there's There's so many terms.
00:02:06
Alexis
are actually buttercups. Fun fact.
00:02:08
Plant People
There's so many terms for them.
00:02:09
Brett
Now, no Narcissus, Annie called me that recently.
00:02:09
Plant People
Yeah.
00:02:12
Brett
I did not know that it was a flower.
00:02:13
Plant People
Yeah.
00:02:13
Brett
I'll be sure to pass that along.
00:02:14
Alexis
She thinks you're a beautiful golden yellow flower, Brett.
00:02:14
Plant People
Yeah. There have been something else she was calling you, Brett. I'm just saying.
00:02:18
Jessica
Well, Ray...
00:02:18
Brett
i was I was captivated by my own reflection in a pool of water in the woods, so that might have been part of why.
00:02:23
Plant People
It could be.
00:02:23
Jessica
There you go. Yeah.
00:02:24
Plant People
could be perfect. We know what Brett's favorite thing to look at is in the woods. So there you go.
00:02:28
Alexis
Himself in clear water without ice.
00:02:29
Plant People
Yeah.
00:02:29
Jessica
um himself
00:02:29
Plant People
um so
00:02:31
Alexis
That's his favorite thing in the spring.
00:02:31
Plant People
Perfect.
00:02:32
Alexis
We
Meet Brandon Howard: Kentucky's Forestry Director
00:02:33
Alexis
have guest on the pod.
00:02:33
Plant People
Perfect.
00:02:35
Alexis
Brandon, tell us what your favorite thing, the first thing to see in spring is. What says spring to you?
00:02:43
Brandon Howard
Uh, what says spring to me? Um, well, just when the trees start blooming, I mean, we, um, uh, and they, you know, I spent a lot of time in, um, in the Southeastern part of the state and Bell County.
00:02:58
Brandon Howard
And so serviceberry is, uh, is, uh, you know, one of the first trees that really starts kicking off those white blooms.
00:03:00
Plant People
Oh, yeah.
00:03:05
Brandon Howard
So I know when I was down there, that was, um, that was something I, I would see, and alternative which I think we'll probably talk a little more about later today, that I know spring is here is when the calorie pears start blooming, but that's not a good thing.
00:03:19
Brandon Howard
So we can.
00:03:19
Jessica
Yeah, for real.
00:03:20
Plant People
Yeah.
00:03:21
Alexis
The tree that smells like feet.
00:03:21
Plant People
Yeah. Yeah.
00:03:23
Jessica
Yeah.
00:03:24
Alexis
Okay.
00:03:24
Plant People
And it's amazing how many of those that you don't see that you do see when the blooms come on. We get calls every spring on those things and they have such a showy display.
00:03:30
Alexis
e
00:03:33
Plant People
And, you know, they they just spread so prolifically now that and there's just entire disturbed sites of those things. It looks like they've been planted. But yeah, the cattle repair.
00:03:44
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:03:45
Alexis
so uh Brandon why don't you introduce yourself to listeners viewers all these true leaves we have out there who are you are you here
00:03:55
Brandon Howard
Well, appreciate y'all having me on the um the show. My name Brandon Howard. I'm the director of the Kentucky Division of Forestry and also serve as Kentucky's state forester.
00:04:07
Plant People
Thank you.
00:04:07
Brandon Howard
So proud, to honored to to have that role in trying to lead this agency and and just promote all things forestry across the Commonwealth.
00:04:19
Alexis
That's awesome.
The Division's Role in Forestry Management
00:04:20
Alexis
So you you do a lot with ah like urban forestry, right?
00:04:20
Jessica
Yeah.
00:04:23
Alexis
As the state forester, do you?
00:04:25
Brandon Howard
Well, urban forestry is a component. I mean, there's you know that urban forestry, there's stewardship. That's rural you know rural forestry, so to speak.
00:04:36
Brandon Howard
Forest inventory and analysis. We go find out what's in the woods all across the state. We do fire suppression, forest health, the list goes on and on.
00:04:47
Plant People
Now, every forester that I've ever known has an interesting backstory, ah kind of how they got to where they are today kind of thing.
00:04:47
Jessica
yeah
00:04:55
Plant People
So so what leads someone like yourself to kind of be the head forester of the state of Kentucky and the division?
00:04:59
Jessica
Thank you.
00:05:02
Plant People
i mean, know what did you grow up in the woods or or what was it?
00:05:06
Brandon Howard
Well, I i was and was born in in Perry County there in Hazard, lived in Brethet County, the first part of my life. And so I think that kind of set the foundation. You know, there's a lot lot of forest in the eastern part of the state compared to central Kentucky.
00:05:25
Brandon Howard
And so I kind of always remember that because we ended up moving to Scott County when Toyota came in back in
00:05:30
Jessica
Thank you.
00:05:35
Brandon Howard
about 1989, the family did. And so, you know, moved me out of the ah the forest um and into central Kentucky. And so, you know, they that played a role in the back of my mind and kind of wanting to get back to the forest in eastern Kentucky.
00:05:53
Brandon Howard
So
Brandon's Journey into Forestry
00:05:54
Brandon Howard
that's what I did. I went back and spent some time down there and ended up coming back to central Kentucky. So I don't know how that happened.
00:05:59
Alexis
this is
00:05:59
Jessica
Thank you.
00:06:00
Brandon Howard
Now,
00:06:02
Alexis
We drag you back.
00:06:04
Brandon Howard
now My wife is from Mercer County, Sheila, and so Jessica knows her well.
00:06:15
Brandon Howard
And so we ended up moving back to Mercer County there. So that kind of contributed as well.
00:06:22
Brett
So Brandon, this might this might make you uncomfortable, and if so, mission accomplished.
00:06:25
Plant People
and
00:06:26
Brett
But ah why do you like forests?
00:06:27
Plant People
This is Brad.
00:06:32
Brett
Why do you like plants? What is it about it that you, like, I realize, as I said, this may make you uncomfortable. could have gone in any number of directions, but it's just more of a touchy-feely. That's my role.
00:06:41
Jessica
I was wondering where you were going with that. Yeah.
00:06:43
Brandon Howard
yeah
00:06:44
Brett
Yeah. And my role in the podcast is to to encourage us to talk about like just the the why a little bit of the joy or the the meaning or the whatever. We've all talked about this in the past. and I'm just curious what your reason is.
00:06:56
Brandon Howard
Yeah. um I feel that the forests are peaceful. You know, i feel like if you go to the forest, the trees don't talk back and just kind of and of hang out in the forest and and get away from the everyday craziness, you know, that we deal with and the whether it be in the cities whether it be wherever it may be, it just seems like the forest is a good place to go kind of kind of find some peace and I always like that about
00:07:31
Jessica
Well, you're with a good group here because all of us being in plant people, I think that's one thing we all like about working with our plants is how they don't talk back to you.
00:07:37
Alexis
They don't talk back. Yeah.
00:07:40
Brandon Howard
the borders.
00:07:40
Alexis
Yeah. Sometimes they scream at you for water. I feel that way sometimes. I'm like, oh, I'm so sorry. But
00:07:46
Plant People
it the
00:07:46
Brandon Howard
So I did start i did start my career with going, my major was animal science and so I changed.
00:07:55
Alexis
Jessica knows that that life.
00:07:55
Plant People
You got back on the right track. You got back on the right track.
00:07:58
Jessica
yeah
00:07:59
Plant People
ah Now, where was ah where did you begin your degrees at as far as that goes? Was it University of Kentucky? Did I read that somewhere? I finished up, yeah.
00:08:06
Brandon Howard
Well, that's where I finished, but I started, i went to more I went to Morehead State University for two years, and that's where I was animal science major, and then I just decided that, hey, I want to try to, you know, get back, get into forestry, you know, and so in Kentucky, the University of Kentucky is the place for an accredited forestry degree, and so so I headed back to
00:08:11
Plant People
ah good programs are in there at Moorhead.
00:08:34
Brandon Howard
Back to central Kentucky again. So if you can see, i'm I'm doing this between eastern Kentucky and Kentucky back forth quite a bit in my life.
00:08:37
Alexis
Thank you.
00:08:38
Jessica
Yeah.
00:08:42
Jessica
And I was going to say, at one point through your career leading to this position you're currently in, I think when I crossed paths with you, you were, were you state fire chief or about how, what was that title?
00:08:42
Plant People
And I'll go ahead, Jessica.
00:08:54
Jessica
Because I know with some of the other foresters I currently work with, you know, when it becomes fire season, It's like all hands
Wildfire Suppression in Kentucky
00:09:01
Jessica
on deck, right? Because you guys are can suddenly be called all at once to um go obviously and attend and control some of these forest fires because we don't want things to escalate yeah and get out of hand.
00:09:12
Brandon Howard
Right. Well, our principal responsibility in the Division of Forestry is wildfire suppression. And that's no matter what we do in the agency, when the Commonwealth is burning, we stop that and we go to the thing that, you know, to protect lives and infrastructure and all that good stuff.
00:09:21
Alexis
Hmm.
00:09:33
Brandon Howard
And so, you know, coming up, I told you I started in southeastern Kentucky down in Bell County. And there's a lot of wildfire down there. Any of y'all know anything about Eastern Kentucky know that that's kind of the epicenter of wildfire.
00:09:46
Brandon Howard
And so I spent a lot of time on wildfire throughout throughout my career.
00:09:47
Jessica
Thank you.
00:09:50
Brandon Howard
And so when I moved to, I took a job in Frankfort as the state forest ah section supervisor just over all our public lands. But I had that wildfire component in my background because that's what we did. I fought fire just as much as anything else. And so the position opened up to be the Fire Chief, as we call it here in the Division of Forestry. And so I was, I got that position before I got this position. And so then at that time, I was just over all wildfire operations at the state.
00:10:22
Alexis
Is that like the title of this episode? I feel like forestry for when the Commonwealth is burning, because I think that would get listeners.
00:10:27
Jessica
I
00:10:29
Alexis
I'm just saying.
Tree Nurseries and Local Sourcing
00:10:30
Alexis
Hmm.
00:10:30
Brett
Yeah.
00:10:31
Jessica
would draw some people in for sure.
00:10:31
Plant People
I always dreaded the fall time of the year in the Eastern Brothers State when I would see you'd start to see that haze in the air and smell the smoke and it in a really dry fall.
00:10:33
Jessica
yeah
00:10:34
Brett
Very evocative.
00:10:39
Alexis
o
00:10:41
Plant People
I always dreaded that because some falls during a very dry period seems like it's just there were there were a lot of fires. And I always dreaded that. I grew up in Johnson County, just outside of Paintsville.
00:10:52
Plant People
And we would just see this haze in the fall. and But we saw the forestry crews and us kids were always just, and you know, enthralled with the crews and talking to them when we would see them working or whatever. And we would harass them as much as we could if we ever saw them around the farm. If they were parked somewhere, it's kind of staging an operation or whatever.
00:11:10
Plant People
But you so you said you I'm sure you do other things besides ah fire control and management.
00:11:10
Brandon Howard
yeah
00:11:16
Plant People
What's a kind of a typical day for you look like?
00:11:18
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:11:19
Plant People
I know you must cover just a tremendous amount of ground in your job as far as ah all of your roles and hats you have to wear.
00:11:28
Brandon Howard
Well, um with this position, you know, my office time increases ah where I came from, basically, just because all those aspects I talked about, you know, we basically have two ah areas that we focus on.
00:11:48
Brandon Howard
We put it in forest protection, which is wildfire, forest health, and enforcing BMPs, best management practices on logging sites, and then forest management,
00:11:58
Brandon Howard
which is our state forest public lands, our tree nurseries, I don't forget about that. We grow tree seedlings and urban and community forestry, stewardship, and a variety of other things.
00:12:10
Brandon Howard
and So, um you know, a typical day is usually just trying to provide leaders intent is the right word, I think, to our managers who report to me.
00:12:13
Jessica
you
00:12:24
Brandon Howard
i have 11. eleven people that directly report to me.
00:12:27
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:12:28
Brandon Howard
So just providing them with some, you know, the leader's intent, the guidance to kind of, you know, and the guidance that I get from commissioner and secretary above me and down from the governor, obviously, that to try to help move the division in the right way that we need, we need it to be, to be there for the citizens.
00:12:48
Brandon Howard
And, and some of the best times I have in this position is when I actually get to leave this office and go out and visit the you know our our staff employees and ah see what great great work they're doing because obviously that's boots on the grounds where the citizens are getting the positive input
00:13:04
Plant People
Oh yeah. Anytime, any, any day out of the office is a good day.
00:13:05
Jessica
Thank
00:13:08
Plant People
I think all of us ah could definitely agree with that. And, and you mentioned, and all the things that you were covering is one of the thing you mentioned is a, is a big part of Bourbon County, as far as ah a local so soil conservation district, they always have a tree giveaway and they source those materials, those trees through you all.
00:13:25
Plant People
And I, and you said there's ah two tree farms in in the state that you all still manage and work with. Is that right? Yeah.
00:13:31
Brandon Howard
That's right. We have a one in over in Marshall County, John P. Rody Nursery. And then we have, and that's in the West.
00:13:40
Plant People
Mm-hmm.
00:13:40
Brandon Howard
And then we have one in Morgan County, which is, we call the Morgan County Tree Nursery. So they produce bare root seedlings, one to two year old.
00:13:49
Jessica
And.
00:13:51
Brandon Howard
And, you know, partnering conservation districts is something we're proud of because, and we even have a matching program to where, You know they purchase a certain number and we can match with a certain number to kind of help bolster their efforts.
00:14:07
Brandon Howard
So they're a big part.
00:14:08
Plant People
Now, ah can anybody order from those? I was really excited when you, it seems like you guys went to, at a point, an online ordering system for those materials. And I was looking on there today before the program today, and I could see what was in stock, what was out of stock. But can anybody order from that or just conservation districts?
00:14:25
Plant People
how do How do people interface with that program?
00:14:28
Brandon Howard
Yeah, anybody can. If they just go to our website, EEC is an energy environment cabinet. So EEC.ky.gov, they can navigate through the Department of Natural Resources to Forestry and they should be able to find where they can link up to our online tree store, but tree seedling store. But yeah, it's ah it's a service that we provide ah for the Commonwealth and have for decades. And so we want people to get out there and they have a need to plant some trees you know, try to source them from Kentucky.
00:15:00
Brandon Howard
That's what we try to provide.
00:15:01
Plant People
Yeah, and a fantastic selection of trees. And I love the way you guys have it laid out and you have it clearly labeled if it's a nut producer or some of the other qualities of the trees.
00:15:08
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:15:10
Plant People
But yeah, great, great native selection. Yeah.
00:15:12
Jessica
As I've worked more with some of the foresters locally over the last couple of years, I've realized there's definite correlation between how um some of the foresters and extension agents are. Some of the things that they offer that's kind of similar to what we do, like how we go out to farm visits or home visits, and they also will go out and help with making decisions on...
00:15:34
Jessica
I know I've over the last couple of years have a lot of people who've bought property and they want to reforest it.
00:15:38
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:15:40
Jessica
Right. And how do you go about doing that? You're just going to plant trees and let them go. and then, um you know, a lot of the foresters can come in and be like, well, no, you got to manage those invasive species and stuff.
00:15:51
Jessica
And I know that's something you all deal with, too, is like.
00:15:54
Plant People
Oh, yeah.
00:15:54
Jessica
Same as we do with these invasive plant species coming in, invasive insect pests that are coming in.
00:15:54
Plant People
and
00:16:00
Jessica
You guys kind of take the lead on, especially in the forest areas with those and how they'll, you know, be affecting things in the future.
00:16:07
Brandon Howard
Yeah.
00:16:09
Brandon Howard
Yeah. You know, I do want to add, you know, you're talking about different partners and everything. um You know, Cooperative Extension, I mean, you all are one of our biggest partners and, and you know, any chance I get, I try to a some maybe y'all talked about Eastern Kentucky, you know, the trees are more visible and then in central Kentucky, it may be more focused on agriculture and things like that.
00:16:32
Jessica
Thank
00:16:35
Brandon Howard
But, you know, I've tried to do my best to coordinate with, you know, extension leadership or other agents to just try to, there are opportunities, like Jessica said, to promote forestry, even in, you know, in places like central Kentucky.
00:16:49
Brandon Howard
And so I'm looking for opportunities to, um,
00:16:49
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:16:53
Brandon Howard
work with extension agents all across the state, no matter if you're in a heavily forested area or lightly forested area, there's a tree growing somewhere in the county.
00:17:02
Plant People
it's It's amazing.
00:17:02
Jessica
Thank you.
00:17:03
Plant People
When I would do tree programs in Floyd County, we worked a lot with forestry and BMPs and things like that on the logger end of things. But it was sort of a different sort of thing. We have just as much interest. i was We were talking a little bit earlier but before the show, I think.
00:17:18
Plant People
And i went from Floyd County as
Forests' Economic Impact
00:17:20
Plant People
a county agent to Bourbon County as a county agent, one of the, I don't know, 84% plus forested area and but in ah Floyd County to Bourbon County, around 2% or so forested.
00:17:30
Plant People
There's just as much interest in bourbon when I have, you know, we have any kind of tree-related program, people...
00:17:35
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:17:36
Plant People
are very interested. And somebody made the joke one day in Bourbon County, they said, well, maybe if you were in the eastern part state, we had a lot of interest in Floyd County, but they said maybe they couldn't see the forest for the trees, meaning that trees are just an integral part.
00:17:47
Plant People
And some at some point, maybe you just don't think about it in the same way.
00:17:50
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:17:50
Plant People
But I still have crowds in central Kentucky, just as much interest. It's a little bit different focused, lot fewer trees, but the interest is just there. No matter where I've been in the state, the interest in trees and urban and and more rural area forestry, there's interest everywhere.
00:18:07
Brandon Howard
Absolutely.
00:18:08
Alexis
Feels like it's um an easy thing to like hook your wagon to, trees are. I don't know. Maybe that's just the plant nerd in me. But you know we've talked about like the monarch and the honeybee, right?
00:18:19
Alexis
Save the monarch, save the honeybee. It's like an easy thing for people to latch onto. it feels like trees are are one of those, um whether that's like Brett and you're doing bonsai and it's just like a really cool artistic way of doing that or –
00:18:25
Jessica
Right.
00:18:33
Alexis
you're have a fruit or nut producer or just you're wanting to shade your home in the summertime. It's just like planting a tree, even if it's hot and gross outside will make you feel good about yourself, I think.
00:18:45
Jessica
right
00:18:46
Alexis
And so it's an easy thing to like convince people they should do if they have the space for it. ah Yeah, the and the interest in the natives, of course, maybe that stems out of the honeybee monarch, you know, push for natives, I don't know.
00:18:57
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:19:01
Alexis
But the interest in native trees really seems to have jumped in, you know, my 11 years in extension.
00:19:05
Jessica
and
00:19:09
Alexis
um Are you seeing that as well as far as like, how many trees are leaving the nursery or questions you get, Brandon?
00:19:18
Brandon Howard
Well, you said native trees jumping. I think the reason that it's people are thinking about native trees is because the invasive exotic trees are jumping.
00:19:25
Alexis
Yeah, that's true.
00:19:26
Brandon Howard
have
00:19:26
Plant People
Yeah. Yeah.
00:19:27
Jessica
That's the thing about your pair that you mentioned earlier, right?
00:19:27
Brandon Howard
and so
00:19:28
Alexis
Unfortunately.
00:19:30
Plant People
yeah
00:19:31
Brandon Howard
yeah yeah i mean Mercer County, the county that but i live in, a drive down the road here in a couple of weeks and you will see some beautiful stands of 15 to 20 foot trees with white flowers.
00:19:48
Brandon Howard
Unfortunately, that's calorie pear that's escaped from the Bradford pear that folks used to like to plant, still do.
00:19:52
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:19:55
Brandon Howard
and And then now you've got a tree that's shading out your natives and it's just a thorny tree that's really hard to deal with.
00:20:00
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:20:02
Jessica
Thank you.
00:20:04
Brandon Howard
And so think people are starting to realize that native trees are were able to, you know, a they were just part of the landscape and they worked worked better. And you talked about, i mean, there's positives with, I guess you could look at short term. I mean, you know, I mentioned bees.
00:20:26
Brandon Howard
ah There's a burst of of nectar and then you can get honey flow from invasives. But the problem is you don't, the natives will provide a,
00:20:35
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:20:38
Brandon Howard
sustained nectar flow throughout the entire season. So you may be happy at the beginning and the end of the season, but those invasives crowded out all your natives.
00:20:41
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:20:47
Brandon Howard
And so now you don't have anything when you normally would have nectar flow. So you got to look at it from both sides.
00:20:54
Plant People
And I'm sure that natives are, I mean, I hate to ask such a broad question, like the greatest threats to, you know, forests that we have in the state now, but I'm sure that non-native species are close to the top as far as we're talking about threats to our forested lands in Kentucky.
Invasive Species Challenges
00:21:09
Plant People
Would that be a correct assumption that natives are or non-native species are way up there, the invasive species?
00:21:15
Brandon Howard
I always add, I always just, when I get to ask this question, you know, it's forest health and forest health, forest health umbrella includes oh combating non-native invasive insects and plants.
00:21:31
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:21:32
Brandon Howard
Yeah. So when you think about insects, especially in central Kentucky, the emerald ash borer, I mean, our white ash trees and green ash trees were,
00:21:40
Plant People
Yeah, big impact.
00:21:40
Jessica
yeah
00:21:44
Brandon Howard
Yeah, decimated. And that's what ah most of the stands in so central Kentucky were, were ash trees. And so, um yeah, stand changing events.
00:21:56
Brandon Howard
Some things aren't as big. You know, they come through, we can keep them at bay, a good job. And then some things we just can't stop. And plants, there's there' plants that are just like that as well.
00:22:09
Plant People
Yeah, that's a tough one, I know for sure. um I guess our conversation is naturally leading so in this direction, but a guy by the name of ah Billy Thomas, I don't know if you bump into Billy Thomas through the Department of Forestry at UK, when we were both kind of extension agents together in the East, he said something one time that just really...
00:22:26
Plant People
changed the way I looked at forestry. He said, we were talking about just trees. where We were in some forested area on a trail somewhere. so And he said, it's just crazy to think that this is a long-term perennial crop.
00:22:34
Jessica
Thank you.
00:22:37
Plant People
And I stopped for a minute and i thought that was an odd statement. He said a perennial crop, almost like one of Alexis's flowers. I was like a perennial crop. That's an interesting way to look at it. But that kind of led into the the economic impact that forests have on on Kentucky and then even beyond.
00:22:55
Plant People
But I don't know if you want to speak a little bit about that, but he was throwing around some huge numbers even years ago of the the impact that forest and forest products have on Kentucky.
00:23:06
Brandon Howard
Yeah. Yeah. It's, uh, you know, it's, um, the rotation ages is longer, you know, you know, corn and corn's got a year and annual rotation age.
00:23:17
Brandon Howard
Uh, now we're dealing with 80 year rotation ages and 70 year rotation ages, things that you do now, you may not see, you know, but your, the, your offspring will.
00:23:26
Jessica
Right.
00:23:29
Brandon Howard
Um, but, um, yeah, it's in the, uh, the economic impact is, um, in the billions with a B. um So, you know, it's ah ah somewhere around 10 billion. I'd have to look at the exact numbers and things have changed, but I mean, it is a major economic driver in both in primary and secondary wood production, you know, the loggers that are taking ah trees out
00:24:00
Brandon Howard
They're providing an economic benefit. The sawmill is providing an economic benefit, whether it's a white oak and a bourbon stave.
00:24:05
Jessica
Thank you.
00:24:08
Brandon Howard
Bourbon can only be made from white oak with a white oak barrel. Or whether it's going to red oak flooring or some sort of cabinetry, walnut, whatever.
00:24:20
Brandon Howard
oh Major impact in the state. And I think it's it doesn't need to be overlooked for sure.
00:24:26
Plant People
ah You mentioned the white oak. I had a question the other day, and now's the perfect time to ask it, I guess.
00:24:30
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:24:31
Plant People
And then someone asked me in Bourbon County, I guess, you know, that product was on their mind in Bourbon County. But they said, do we still have white oak in Kentucky to any amount ah to support the bourbon industry?
00:24:40
Jessica
so
00:24:42
Plant People
And I know some work was going on with that, with ah the makeup of the forest and and taking white oak into consideration. But do we still have some stands that supply that industry, I guess, don't we?
00:24:53
Brandon Howard
Yeah, there are stands of white oak. the The concern was that the trend, the long term trend, like we talked about it' the long rotation age.
00:24:57
Plant People
Thank you.
00:25:01
Brandon Howard
And so we want to think about what's going to happen in 30, 40, 50 years, whatever the number may be. And if we see the trend go, the usage of white oak outpacing the growth rate, then we need to think about doing some things to kind of promote white oak. You know, there was a white oak initiative that was started.
00:25:22
Brandon Howard
ah that's ah It's a standalone group now who they try to promote good policy and legislation to support white oak.
00:25:35
Brandon Howard
And then all foresters, white oak is a premier species regardless.
00:25:39
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:25:39
Brandon Howard
It's good for wildlife. It's good for a lot of things. And so we're hyper-focused. If nothing else, the conversation keeps us hyper-focused on white oak and trying to promote white oak.
00:25:50
Jessica
Thank you.
00:25:51
Brandon Howard
and invasive species like we talked about coming in, they're taking over some white oak stands, and a lot of different stands, and just general land use changes, you know, so there's enough white oak.
00:26:05
Brandon Howard
Now, we just have to continue to have good practices for decades down the road.
00:26:11
Plant People
and don't know it's ah It's very hard to plant that forehead.
00:26:11
Alexis
beyond
00:26:13
Plant People
Yeah.
00:26:14
Alexis
The only trees my husband wanted to be able to identify were the white oak group and the red oak group because he's a hunter. And he was like, that's all I care.
00:26:25
Alexis
All he cares about being able to den identify.
00:26:26
Plant People
Yeah.
00:26:26
Alexis
If he doesn't think it's a, if it's not an oak, he doesn't care. And if it is an oak, he wants to know it's white or red. And ah so that's fun to take him out in the woods. like, what's that? What's that?
00:26:35
Brandon Howard
Yeah.
00:26:36
Alexis
What's that? I bet your kids know a bunch of trees or yeah and your family probably can't.
00:26:37
Plant People
looking for nut production. Yeah.
00:26:40
Brandon Howard
My kids do know about the trees.
00:26:41
Jessica
Yes.
00:26:44
Brandon Howard
Their mom and I, we take try to take them to as many events. I mean, they're big into 4-H. That's another UK extended thing.
00:26:51
Jessica
I was going to say, like, he didn't touch on the fact that he is also an all-star extension volunteer for multiple programs and a 4-H club leader currently, because I went with them when ah until until, you know, the only time it rained and stormed last year, since, you know, we were in a drought.
00:27:01
Brandon Howard
yeah
00:27:02
Alexis
Thank you.
00:27:10
Jessica
The lightning ran us off and went on a tree walk.
00:27:10
Brandon Howard
yeah
00:27:14
Jessica
So, Jennifer Trees.
00:27:15
Brandon Howard
Yeah. Yeah. So we, my wife and I, we lead the natural resources club in Mercer County, 4-H. And so we've got pretty good attendance and they've done, the kids have done pretty good at some competitions.
00:27:29
Brandon Howard
We participate participate in the forestry competitions and there's more than just forestry, I mean, wildlife, you name it.
00:27:30
Jessica
h
00:27:35
Brandon Howard
And so I don't know if it was Jessica or somebody there at the office said we were an extension family because, you know,
00:27:44
Jessica
I see them once a week, probably.
00:27:44
Brandon Howard
ah
00:27:45
Jessica
like
00:27:46
Plant People
Mm-hmm.
Forestry Education and Youth Engagement
00:27:48
Brandon Howard
Thank you.
00:27:48
Jessica
and So, very involved.
00:27:50
Alexis
He just happens to also be, have a really cool job.
00:27:52
Jessica
Yes, really cool job. So...
00:27:55
Brett
Well, I have a question for you. And I, I really, one of my favorite things about this podcast is the opportunity to see how other people think about a thing. So I was going to be a confession, but you softened it for me. So I don't have to feel like I'm, you know, in front of a jury, but my wife and I recently had a pretty substantial Bradford pair cut down in our front yard.
00:28:21
Brett
Of course, we,
00:28:21
Alexis
And it it was the biggest one I've ever seen, like ever.
00:28:22
Jessica
Thank you.
00:28:24
Brett
It was like a, like a, like maybe not state champion Bradford pair, but like, you know, in good branch angles, like never shattered and fell on anything.
00:28:24
Alexis
It
00:28:27
Plant People
Yeah.
00:28:31
Alexis
was wild.
00:28:32
Brett
Like everything about it was just weird. But can you, so at this, well, on the one hand, getting rid of this invasive thing. Okay, cool. On the other hand, it was, I don't know, 28 inches at breast height. Maybe. I mean, it was a pretty big, maybe a little bit bigger than that. I don't know.
00:28:51
Brett
How do you, what's what's your calculus and why you would or wouldn't do that?
00:28:55
Jessica
Thank you.
00:28:56
Brett
the You're killing an old tree. ah There's a part of me that feels sad, even though you know that that thing's gone now. ah this is We live in Lexington, suburban area.
00:29:07
Brett
We don't have a lot of trees. So you know the one's missing. It's a bigger issue than if you have thousands. I don't know.
00:29:13
Alexis
I passed his house up the last time because I didn't see the tree in the front yard. I was like, wait, where am I?
00:29:18
Brett
So what do what what do you say to that? What do you say to to to me? Murder slash conservationist? Question mark.
00:29:26
Brandon Howard
Well, first off, there's no such thing as a state champion breath repair because we do not measure that metric.
00:29:31
Plant People
and
00:29:32
Brett
Because you knew that you know that I would win.
00:29:32
Brandon Howard
a
00:29:32
Alexis
So you can claim that you had it.
00:29:33
Brett
Because you know that I would win.
00:29:34
Alexis
Yeah, you can claim you had it.
00:29:35
Brett
That's why.
00:29:35
Jessica
Yeah.
00:29:35
Brandon Howard
yeah
00:29:35
Brett
You're trying to keep me down, Brandon.
00:29:36
Brandon Howard
but
00:29:36
Jessica
Own that, Brett.
00:29:37
Brett
I understand.
00:29:37
Plant People
That's like being the best at the worst, Brett. I'm just going to put that out there. wow
00:29:42
Brandon Howard
And I would suggest if you feel bad about it, after you cut it down, have a bowl made out. and put it on the shelf so you can look at it because that's all it's good for. um I hate to be that way, but so here's the problem with Bradford pear. I mean, you know, it's it's supposed to be this thing that doesn't spread. you plant it and it stays in that one spot, and that's fine if everybody in your neighborhood has Bradford pear.
00:30:07
Brandon Howard
Well, your neighbor down the road decides to plant a different kind of pear. Well, here comes the wind. There goes the pollen before you know it. Boom, calorie repair everywhere.
00:30:18
Brandon Howard
And so he played a role spreading this nuisance pest of a plant.
00:30:23
Plant People
Brett and Brett Palero.
00:30:28
Brandon Howard
So, so.
00:30:29
Brett
To be clear, Brandon, I am not 60 years old, nor did I plant this tree all those years ago.
00:30:31
Jessica
yeah yeah
00:30:37
Alexis
He did cut it down though, so we're giving him props.
00:30:39
Brett
And i did I did pay a, of course, insured certified arborist to remove to remove this tree safely.
00:30:44
Jessica
oh very nice
00:30:47
Brandon Howard
Yeah. So you are part of the solution.
00:30:50
Brandon Howard
Thank you.
00:30:50
Brett
Thanks, Brandon.
00:30:51
Brett
I need...
00:30:52
Plant People
Don't, don't.
00:30:52
Brett
Okay.
00:30:52
Brandon Howard
So you should not feel bad.
00:30:54
Brett
okay Okay.
00:30:55
Brandon Howard
Be happy.
00:30:55
Plant People
Where are you going to put its place, Brad? Anything? That's my question.
00:30:58
Brett
Yeah.
00:30:59
Plant People
I always want to know what's going there.
00:30:59
Jessica
yeah what are you going to put back in there
00:31:00
Plant People
Yeah.
00:31:01
Brett
but So we actually, we got the order out. We got it out of order. um We planted something before we cut it down, but because it was like, there was like a program available through our, through the city to be able to plant like a pretty decent ball and burlap, ah Kentucky yellow wood.
00:31:07
Alexis
Mm-hmm.
00:31:08
Jessica
Thank you.
00:31:16
Jessica
oh
00:31:17
Brandon Howard
Okay.
00:31:17
Brett
It was like one of the most quirky ones that they had. And we have a little tulip poplar in the front yard and a little bald cypress and
00:31:23
Plant People
one of the best.
00:31:25
Brandon Howard
Yeah.
00:31:26
Brett
Some yeah sweet gum in the back, a couple dogwoods that would have been there for forever.
00:31:27
Brandon Howard
It's good.
00:31:32
Brandon Howard
So was it some sort of program to where if you took it down, you'd get something to be like a bounty program or?
00:31:32
Brett
So yeah.
00:31:37
Brett
No, they were it was just independent. It was just ah there was an opportunity to get a free tree if you worked with them. And we did that. And in order to make that work, we were going to have to take this one down.
00:31:50
Brett
And we'd been wanting to for a while. and we were going to do it last year, but didn't work out. So yeah, it was it was literally there completely. Taking it down was just to provide space for the one that we got for free.
00:32:00
Jessica
And now you can brag to your neighbors if you have any neighbors who question you about why did Brett take down that beautiful tree? You're like the the the head of the Division of Forestry told me I'm doing a good job.
00:32:10
Brett
but Yeah. i'm and yeah Well, my next door neighbor has a terrible, terrible Bradford player pair allergy.
00:32:15
Alexis
Uh-huh. ahha
00:32:15
Brett
So he's extremely stoked about, you know, not another, not another spring.
00:32:17
Jessica
I bet happy, yeah.
00:32:21
Brandon Howard
fighting a good fight, man. appreciate that.
00:32:24
Alexis
Will you, um i I just love the idea of this bounty, program these bounty programs that are popping up. One, because it just sounds so like aggressive.
00:32:30
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:32:33
Alexis
and I think that's fun.
00:32:34
Plant People
Yeah, ah you of course you would like that, Alexis. You would.
00:32:37
Alexis
But ah we, ah can you explain those a little bit and maybe just like why they pop up in some places and not other places? I'm not sure if you have a full answer there, but we, I know Jessica probably gets calls and I always got calls in Boyle County about like, why aren't we doing that?
00:32:51
Jessica
Yeah.
00:32:54
Brandon Howard
Yeah. Well, and, you know, or our agency helps support communities that try to do that, and whichever way we can, whether it be through helping them with some type of service or whatever, but anytime you do a boy a bounty program, then, you when you think of bounty, you think about you get something in return, obviously, and so that's why I was thinking that that might have been the situation earlier was because if you take down a nuisance like Bradford pear, and then you get something to go back in its place that just incentivizes property owners to go away from the species.
00:33:33
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:33:34
Brandon Howard
And so rather than just say, hey, cut a tree down and go out and find your own. So, you know, sometimes communities that have a better funding source, a larger, maybe an urban community,
00:33:46
Brandon Howard
may be able to do that versus a smaller community that it just doesn't have the budget. So ah you see that a lot more in your larger cities, but it's a good thing. I mean, any any community that's doing that is definitely doing a good service for everybody in the community.
00:34:05
Alexis
Down with the pear.
00:34:05
Brett
Yeah, I guess we did a DIY bounty program.
00:34:09
Plant People
Yeah.
00:34:09
Jessica
Thank you.
00:34:09
Brandon Howard
Yeah, that's awesome.
00:34:10
Plant People
Yeah, it' it seems like a big job. I mean, you look at all these trees everywhere. So every one that you take out of the ecosystem, I guess, is a win when we're talking about these invasives. It's ah going to take everybody to address this issue. It's it's a it's a big one.
00:34:25
Plant People
um Another real quick question for you, Brandon, is let's say I have 10, 15 acres, 20 acres, and I'm somewhere in the state of Kentucky, and I'm just ah just a landowner. How do you guys interface with landowners that may have a question if they're looking for a little bit of ah help? I guess I'm asking, you know what could you guys offer like landowners directly? I know you guys have a far-reaching system that you're in charge of.
00:34:50
Brandon Howard
Yeah, we our biggest focus is service, more so than just financial assistance. So if it's kind of what we specialize in.
00:35:00
Plant People
Mm-hmm.
00:35:00
Jessica
you
00:35:04
Brandon Howard
And so we have what we call service foresters in the state, all across the state. And if someone, this same website I told you about earlier, eec.ky.gov, if they go there, they can find their county and which field office is assigned ah that particular county and they can just call the number ah on there and and start a conversation with our foresters and then you know we'll have someone, they they'll fill out an application we'll have a forester come out and visit their property.
00:35:39
Brandon Howard
A lot times we do this in conjunction with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife because sometimes landowners
00:35:43
Plant People
Mm-hmm.
00:35:45
Brandon Howard
It's all about what the landowner's goal is. I mean, it could be timber production.
00:35:48
Jessica
Thank you.
00:35:48
Brandon Howard
That's where we specialize. Or it could be wildlife enhancement. Sometimes they kind of go hand in hand. So work we work hand in hand with our wildlife colleagues and try to provide a good service to the citizens.
00:36:03
Brandon Howard
So all they have to do is call.
00:36:05
Plant People
I'm glad to hear you guys have that partnership still. I know that's a great one-two combo, ah those two organizations working together. that's ah That's a heck of a strong combination.
00:36:15
Brandon Howard
Yeah, i was looking back at statutes back from 1912. And when we were created, and Kentucky Fish Wildlife was created you know pretty much by the same time.
00:36:23
Jessica
Thank you.
00:36:29
Brandon Howard
So we've got a long history of you know working together with some of the original original government Kentucky, really.
00:36:41
Alexis
I have a two part question.
00:36:41
Brett
Uh oh. no
00:36:43
Plant People
Oh, no, here we go Complicated, complicated.
00:36:43
Alexis
Sorry, Brett.
00:36:45
Plant People
and
00:36:46
Alexis
one um have you heard of, and I'm hoping you say no, have you heard of beech leaf disease? Beech is one of my favorite trees, so I'm a little panicked.
00:36:59
Brandon Howard
Well, it's I mean, I've heard of a disease dealing with beach, but I don't think it's it's not like on our major radar.
00:37:09
Jessica
It's good.
00:37:10
Brandon Howard
so
00:37:10
Alexis
Sweet. Yeah. I've only a good friend of mine is a entomologist for the state forestry department in New Hampshire. And that's where they're they're finding it like northeast. And I was up there and he was like, oh, yeah, all of our beaches are dying. I was like, what?
00:37:25
Alexis
but So I was like.
00:37:25
Brandon Howard
Well, now, I'll caveat. As soon as I say that, though,
00:37:28
Alexis
Yeah, that's true. I brought it up.
00:37:29
Brandon Howard
Probably somewhere in Kentucky, you know, somebody's probably going listen and say, wait second.
00:37:33
Jessica
Wait, I have one.
00:37:33
Brandon Howard
That guy's we're wrong.
00:37:35
Jessica
Yeah.
00:37:35
Alexis
And see, this is why I'm not a county agent anymore. I'm not going to field these phone calls.
00:37:38
Brandon Howard
ah the
00:37:39
Alexis
But yeah, it's a nematode that spreads that like feeds on the buds and spreads this disease to American, European, Oriental Beach.
00:37:41
Plant People
We're going to give me your number, Lexis.
00:37:43
Jessica
Oh.
00:37:49
Alexis
So um but that leads me into my true question of is there a invasive, whether it's insect or plant that you are worried about?
00:38:00
Alexis
Maybe it's not here or not here in big numbers.
00:38:01
Brett
Oh my gosh. And we're not going to, we're not going to end on such a downer of a question. Holy moly.
00:38:05
Alexis
i' I was going to ask him what his favorite trees were after that.
00:38:06
Plant People
Brent.
00:38:07
Jessica
a
00:38:09
Brett
Okay.
00:38:09
Alexis
This is important, Brett.
00:38:09
Brett
Okay. wo
00:38:10
Jessica
Yeah, I realized we hadn't asked that yet.
00:38:10
Plant People
He's trying to bring it up.
00:38:11
Brett
um
00:38:12
Alexis
People need to know.
00:38:13
Brett
I know it's important. it's making me stressed. I'm feeling stressed personally as a, as a listener.
00:38:16
Alexis
i'm making him sweat.
00:38:16
Plant People
itching.
00:38:19
Brandon Howard
ah Well, the thing in the news is the spotted lanternfly, but I'm not worried about that from a forestry aspect. You know, forestry, they come to the tree of heaven, but from your horticultural folks, you should be worried about that.
00:38:27
Jessica
yeah
00:38:34
Jessica
Yeah.
00:38:36
Brandon Howard
So we'll mention that. ah Maybe I am worried about that the most since I'm on the UROS podcast.
00:38:39
Alexis
Whee! but
00:38:41
Brandon Howard
So, yeah.
00:38:41
Plant People
Yeah.
00:38:41
Brett
That's right. You're going to play to me your playing the audience.
00:38:42
Brandon Howard
oh So...
00:38:44
Plant People
think
00:38:44
Brandon Howard
ah So I am worried about that. Well, from a forestry standpoint, in trees, um you know, the spongy moth, formerly known as gypsy moth,
Combating Forest Threats
00:38:55
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:38:55
Brandon Howard
has been hanging out on the edge of eastern Kentucky for years.
00:39:02
Brandon Howard
And slow the slow the spread programs work, and it has slowed.
00:39:06
Jessica
Yeah.
00:39:07
Brandon Howard
But if those things inch in here and they start taking out your white oak and red oak, then that's not good. And so, you know, they eat the leaves and they'll kill, you know, they'll stress the trees.
00:39:17
Jessica
yeah
00:39:18
Brandon Howard
So I hope that stays at bay, but, you know, that's kind of a worry that every now and then crosses my mind. it doesn't happen.
00:39:26
Alexis
we what we should put a link to that um program in the notes just for people who maybe want to make sure they're doing all they can to stop the spread of stuff because it's important Brett even if it's stressful
00:39:40
Brett
No, I know it's important. I just, we're we're getting close to the end of time.
00:39:42
Plant People
You're downer, Alexis, you're downer.
00:39:42
Brett
and I just wanted to let everybody know we're going to end something.
00:39:43
Jessica
Well, then let's, yeah, he' you should share what your favorite tree is then, Brandon.
00:39:49
Brett
or Or maybe like, what's a tree species that you would love to see more people out there planting?
00:39:49
Alexis
we're top three
00:39:54
Jessica
let's see.
00:39:54
Alexis
What's underrated, yeah.
00:39:56
Jessica
Brett always has good questions.
00:39:59
Brandon Howard
Well, everything's site dependent. I mean, take a yellow poplar, also known as tulip poplar, and stick it on a dry ridge top, then it's not going make it, you know?
00:40:12
Jessica
Nope.
00:40:12
Brandon Howard
So it's a bottom, it's a cove species. It needs well-drained moist soil. So, you know, I've always been a fan of yellow poplar. I mean, it it you know it's you know, it's our state tree And, but just growing up, growing up, starting out Brethia County, you know, there was a lot of yellow poplars there.
00:40:35
Brandon Howard
And we used to have one right there the middle of our driveway. you know, we'd drive on each side of it as a kid. you know it is in Eastern Kentucky. It's that's just how it is. You got to, that was the place that could put our driveway. So I remember watching that tree grow as kid. So I kind of, something about yellow poplar, I think that goes back to my childhood, but, you know,
00:40:56
Brandon Howard
Just the oak species, white oak and red oak. I like them all. And we have produced some maple syrup over the years. My family has. And so I do like a good sugar maple stand.
00:41:09
Brandon Howard
So it's all about what you want what you need. So site dependent.
00:41:14
Brett
Seems like this year has been a pretty decent sap flow at a couple of the places that I've talked to. So that's pretty cool. People making syrup.
00:41:21
Brandon Howard
yeah
00:41:21
Brett
That's pretty cool.
00:41:23
Brett
you have a okay, so I guess that's sort of a double, you know, you answered site specific for people out there planting, but that you might want hear something your good memories are about tulip poplar.
00:41:24
Alexis
and
00:41:32
Alexis
Right tree, right place. We have a pub.
00:41:35
Jessica
Mm hmm.
00:41:36
Alexis
I think it's literally called right tree, right place.
00:41:37
Brett
Or yellow poplar.
00:41:37
Alexis
so Maybe.
00:41:38
Jessica
Yep.
00:41:38
Alexis
Yeah.
00:41:41
Alexis
You can look it up.
00:41:43
Plant People
Yeah, we have publications for everything. I love the tulip poplar, the biggest saw log I've ever seen. And the most saw logs out of one tree is probably a tulip poplar. They're an incredible tree, but I like that take on things we were talking about.
00:41:55
Plant People
i guess so a more positive way to finish Alexis is ah you we were talking about fond memories.
00:41:58
Alexis
Sorry.
00:42:01
Plant People
I'll never forget the first time when I was a kid and went towards central Kentucky from Eastern Kentucky and saw ah my, one of my favorite memories is all the Eastern red buds and dogwoods.
00:42:11
Plant People
It just happened to be a year where the blooms coincided and just driving up the mountain parkway. And there's just nothing like it when those start to bloom in the spring and everything works out just right. And you see that splash of purpley, that's a highly technical term, purpley color, purple color, and then all that white. I mean, it's just, ah it's an awesome time of the year. And and that time of the year is coming up here in Kentucky. And and I look forward to it.
00:42:35
Plant People
I really look forward to it.
00:42:36
Brandon Howard
Absolutely.
00:42:38
Jessica
I have, okay.
00:42:39
Brandon Howard
You know what it means to, when the red buds bloom, what it's time to do?
00:42:43
Plant People
What's that?
00:42:43
Brandon Howard
Jessica probably knows.
00:42:45
Jessica
If going to say something with bees, because Brandon also has not mentioned that he's a big beekeeper as well.
00:42:51
Brandon Howard
Put the honey supers on.
00:42:52
Jessica
Yeah.
00:42:52
Plant People
yeah
00:42:52
Brandon Howard
and Put those honey supers on. Start getting that honey in there. Just throw that out there.
00:42:56
Alexis
When the dogwoods bloom, the crappie are biting.
00:42:56
Plant People
Yeah. Bees are awake.
00:42:58
Alexis
I know that one.
00:43:00
Plant People
Oh, so now we're getting into forest lore. This is a strong way to finish. I like that. I like that. We always look forward to honey flow in the Eastern part when the locust had a good bloom year and you get locust honey.
00:43:10
Brandon Howard
Yeah.
00:43:11
Plant People
That was sort of a legendary sort of thing.
00:43:11
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:43:13
Brandon Howard
yeah
00:43:13
Plant People
It's a good time when you get a good, good, straight locust flow. And then the honey that comes off of that is just, yeah, it's good time.
00:43:20
Jessica
Not getting, trying to sidetrack this into bees, but one year, Brandon had some honey that was like clear, right?
00:43:20
Brandon Howard
Yeah.
00:43:27
Jessica
Did we eventually think it was like from the maples blooming or?
00:43:31
Brandon Howard
Yeah. we but We didn't have, we didn't have, it wasn't tested, but I mean, it was black locusts and, um, Dominant is what we figured because that's when it was blown around.
00:43:38
Plant People
Yeah.
00:43:40
Jessica
But it was like completely clear. Like it just barely had like a yellow um tend to it.
00:43:43
Alexis
hmm
00:43:45
Plant People
the clearest honey I've ever seen of has been either um either locust or later on reclaimed strip mine areas. We would get autumn olive made of really clear honey, and you would just get hundreds of acres.
00:43:58
Plant People
I won't even get off on a tangent on autumn olive. But yeah, those that locust honey is, it doesn't, I mean, people's like, that's not real honey. I'm like, no, it's honey. But it's usually, you don't get those good pure runs of that.
00:44:08
Brandon Howard
Yeah.
00:44:10
Plant People
It's it's just a specific set of ah ah occurrences that have to come together to make that beautiful clear honey.
00:44:15
Brandon Howard
I've got to be honest, honeysuckle is part of that spring honey too, and it's invasive like I talked about earlier, but it makes good honey.
00:44:15
Plant People
Yeah.
00:44:20
Jessica
Mm-hmm.
00:44:21
Plant People
Oh, yeah.
00:44:26
Brandon Howard
So.
00:44:26
Plant People
It does. It does.
00:44:29
Alexis
Well, cool. Any lasting words, Brandon? anyone Anything you want people to take away, definitely to know by the end of this episode.
Public Service and Forestry Education
00:44:38
Brandon Howard
Just that, you know, the Division of Forestry has been around for a long time. And my goal and my leader's intent for this division is to provide the public with great service and empower them with the knowledge and education to make the decisions they need to make, on whether it's on their forests, whether it's what's trees to plant in an urban setting.
00:45:05
Brandon Howard
We have people for for that. And we have we know how to point them back to our partners. You know, like I talked about, Fish and Wildlife, there's Forest Service, there's UK. I mean, the list goes on and on. So just don't hesitate to reach out.
00:45:23
Brandon Howard
We'd love to help out everybody we can and point them in the right direction because after all, Kentucky is half forested. That's over 12 million acres of forest us and that everything else is is is likewise. So there's a lot of trees out there and I know there's lot to do in the forest. So it's time to get to work.
00:45:44
Alexis
I like that. Time to get to work. How's that for an ending, Brett? Positive. Time to get to work.
00:45:49
Jessica
Yeah.
00:45:49
Alexis
Plant them trees.
00:45:50
Brett
To be clear, I never suggested that Brandon I thought did great. i was you My criticism was strictly to aim toward you.
00:45:56
Plant People
Yeah, just Alexis, not the name names.
00:45:59
Alexis
Fair. All right. I'll take the criticism when it's due. um Anyways, well, Brandon, we really appreciate you being here and talking trees. i think anybody in this group could talk trees any day, any time for as long as possible.
00:46:12
Alexis
But we know you have important things to do because, you know, you're kind of like... really important guy, uh, as we talked about. So we really appreciate your time. ah you all, uh, our listeners drop us, uh, say, uh, Brandon was the best guest you ever had.
00:46:23
Jessica
you.
00:46:26
Alexis
You want to hear him on more to talk about trees. You're going to contact the department of forestry. Just leave that all in a review with your five stars. We appreciate it. Uh, you can also follow us on Instagram, uh, at horde culture podcast.
00:46:37
Alexis
You can shoot us an email. If you have questions, uh, you know, whether, or not you need to find your extension agent or you're not sure what tree to plant, you can shoot us an email and that is in the show notes along with some other links that we mentioned today.
00:46:51
Alexis
um But that is where we're going to wrap it up. We appreciate you all being here today and we hope you will join us next time.
00:46:54
Jessica
you
00:46:58
Alexis
Have a good one.