Today we discuss arguably the most important topic facing our working forests, that of the excess supply of small-diameter timber. Shaun and Brady are joined by Dr. Matthew Pelkki, Director of the Center for Forest Business at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

He discusses the consequences of not finding market outlets for this material, both economic and ecological, and walks us through several alternative futures that could help in dealing with this wicked problem that will require multiple solutions to ultimately bring our forests back in balance in the near and longer term. The purpose is to provide the listener with items that they promote to their policymakers and legislators to help smooth the expansion of existing and creation of new end use markets that utilize already developed technologies that are ready to scale.

For More on UAM''s Center for Forest Business, please click the link below.

https://www.uamont.edu/academics/CFANR/acfb.html

On this episode, Brady and Shaun are joined by Dr. David Clabo from the University of Georgia to discuss pine straw raking as an alternative income source for forest landowners. Dr. Clabo is an Associate Professor of Silviculture Outreach, who did his degree training at the University of Tennessee.

To contact Dr. Clabo with questions or clarifications please see his information at the following link. https://warnell.uga.edu/directory/people/david-c-clabo-phd

For more on pine straw, follow this link https://www.bugwood.org/forestry.cfm

In this episode of Timber University, Shaun and Brady welcome James Callicutt, Extension Instructor - Waterfowl, Upland Gamebirds, and Invasive Species at Mississippi State University, to discuss the intricacies of Green Tree Reservoirs (GTRs). James shares insights into the management and ecological significance of GTRs, particularly in the context of waterfowl habitat.

For more info you can reach James at james.callicutt@msstate.edu

Or contact Brady or Shaun at timberuniversity@gmail.com

In this episode, Dr. Tanger and Dr. Self are joined by Dr. Kevin Boston. They discuss the different US forest certification standards and the benefits of self regulation of the industry as a way to show good stewardship to potential and existing markets and to the general public.

Dr. Boston is an Associate Professor of Forest Operations at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and has written several books on various forest subjects.

For questions or comments, please email us at timberuniversity@gmail.com

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Kristy McAndrew from Mississippi State University. Dr. McAndrew will walk us through the ins and outs of Brown spot needle blight, a fungal disease that infects pine needles, leading to premature needle loss, stunted growth, and long-term stress that increases a tree's vulnerability to other pests and pathogens, and provide an update on Emerald Ash Borer presence in the region.

Dr. McAndrew is a forest health specialist at Mississippi State University in the Forestry Department. Kristy has a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries & Wildlife, both from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO, and also completed a Master's and PhD at Mississippi State University in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology.

For more on brown spot needle blight, see this recent article and publication from the Arkansas Division of Agriculture. www.uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/2025/august/08-18-2025-ark-UAM-needle-blight.aspx

If you have questions, feel free to contact us at timberuniversity@gmail.com

In this episode, we return to the mailbag to answer listener questions. Brady covers the current status of brownspot needle blight and thinning pines with herbicide applications as an alternative to commercial thinning in light of depressed markets. Shaun covers a combo question on replanting costs and how to treat those costs for tax purposes and how that may or may not affect a timber owners basis account.

In this episode, Dr. Tanger and Dr. Self are joined by Dr. Bronson Strickland as they consider how wildlife objectives can influence thinning regimes in forest management. Dr. Bronson Strickland, the Godfather of Timber University and co-Host of Deer University, our sister program. Dr. Strickland is the St. John Family Endowed Professor of Wildlife Management at Mississippi State University.

For questions or comments, email us at timberuniversity@gmail.com.

​​Silvicultural methodology for longleaf pine is sometimes misunderstood by landowners and land managers. Join the Timber University team as they discuss longleaf systems and their management using current techniques with today's guest, Dr. John Willis, a research forester with the United States Forest Service.

For questions or comments, email us at timberuniversity@gmail.com.