Timber University (Mississippi State University)

After a casualty event, a forest landowner must make many difficult decisions. We discuss topics such as what to do immediately following a casualty event and proper steps to take as you move forward in the salvage process. 

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

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Join Shaun and Brady as they offer advice on considerations for marketing your timber at harvest time. We briefly discuss sale preparation, the bidding process, reasons for using a consultant, and other topics in this episode of Timber University. Remember, it is incumbent upon you to ensure you get the most for your timber by employing appropriate marketing strategy.

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

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Only a small percentage of landowners actually possess a written management plan for their property. This episode of Timber University details the benefits of having a management plan as well as commonly included components and their importance when writing a management plan.

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

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Today's episode, we explore what strategies landowners and managers can utilized when standard thinning operations cannot occur due to poor markets. For questions or comments, email us at timberuniversity@gmail.com.

In today's episode, we go back to basics and map out for listeners the biological, operational, and economic considerations of thinning pine stands. For most in the southeast, markets are tough for pine thinning material, but we explore why it's so important to thin nonetheless. Remember if you don't thin your forest, mother nature will. Next episode: we'll touch on some alternatives you can explore in light of the depressed markets.

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

This month is the first Q&A episode. Brady and Shaun get to listener questions they have received since the first episode. They discuss taxes, some hardwood silviculture, and the northern long-eared bat. 

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

 Be sure to subscribe directly to Timber University and follow NRU on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

Join us in this episode of Timber University as we discuss the pros and cons of site preparation in forestry. Many forest managers are familiar with the various mechanical and chemical site preparation methods available, but may not know how they compare with each other in implementation and effectiveness. This episode is intended to familiarize you with the most commonly encountered treatments currently used in forestry.

For questions or comments, email us at timberuniversity@gmail.com. Be sure to subscribe directly to Timber University and follow NRU on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

Several surveys indicate that non-industrial private forest landowners own land for reasons other than timber production. These reasons include aesthetics, wildlife-related recreation, and other natural resource-based activities.The term multiple use in natural resource management is straightforward: it is the management of lands for more than one purpose. Inherently, this management approach is more complex and requires forest landowners to understand and assess each additional use for its compatibility with their long-term forest-management goals.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Adam Rhonke, Assistant Extension Professor at Mississippi State University, to walk us through the complexities and opportunities Multiple Use Management provides to forest landowners. 

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

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In this episode we take a shot at listener questions, ranging from controlling tree of heaven to addressing the pros and cons of managing for longleaf as compared to loblolly pine. We also address on-site and off-site characteristics to keep in mind when buying timber property. 

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

In this episode of Timber University, we discuss the importance of setting objectives and realistic goals for ownership of your property. Often forestland owners do not know where to start in their management efforts, this episode is intended to help you begin the management process by listing some things to consider before undertaking this exciting challenge.

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

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Over the past few years, brownspot needle blight and an assemblage of other problematic pathogenic species have garnered increasing concern in pine systems across the South. Join us as we discuss these along with current research efforts centered on this problem with Dr. John Riggins, Mississippi State University.

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

Today we discuss what's happening in the US south timber markets. We cover what drives lumber consumption, what to keep an eye on for housing, and discuss stumpage drivers and price expectations.

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

Most people interested in management of forests are familiar with chemical site preparation as a management tool. However, many are not aware of other herbicide application options available for fine tuning management in later efforts of the rotation. Join Shaun and Brady as they discuss how herbaceous weed control, release, and mid rotation brush control as well as cut stump, basal bark, and stem injection treatments may fit into the later forest management work.

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

Forest tax is a very specialized area in the tax codes. Many forest landowners, CPAs, and lawyers are often not well versed with this type of taxation. This episode of Timber University is recorded with the intent of highlighting some of the more pertinent areas of tax law that concern landowners and their forest management.

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

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This episode we are joined by Dr. Morgan Varner from the Tall Timbers Land Trust and Research Center. Dr. Varner discusses the benefits of fire on the landscape, a brief history of utilizing prescribed fire in the US south, and the consequences of using and not using prescribed fire to manage forests.

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

Approximately two thirds of Americans do not have a will and the implications of this can be far reaching. Join us as Dr. Rebecca Smith, Director of the Mississippi State University Extension Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy, discusses basic estate planning and how it can help landowners.

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

In this episode, we take on the difficult subject of casualty loss. This is a subject no landowner looks forward to, but planning for the worst is sound planning. Join us as we discuss what the IRS considers a casualty, how to determine your loss in the eyes of the IRS, and how best to move forward, from a Forest Tax perspective, after one occurs.  

Resources:

Tips for Landowners Attempting to Salvage Hurricane Damaged Timber 

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

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Timber trespass, is the unauthorized removal of trees, and can occur unintentionally where property boundaries are unmarked, unmaintained, or remote. Join us as we discuss this far reaching topic with Dr. Eric McConnell, an associate professor of forest business at Mississippi State University to talk with us about how to mitigate trespass and theft and actions a landowner may take after the fact. 

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

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In this episode we circle back to carbon markets with a very special guest Dr. Gregory Latta, Associate Research Professor of Forest Economics and Director of Policy Analysis Group at the University of Idaho. Dr. Latta brings several decades of experience in research and practical experience in designing and evaluating carbon programs. He discusses some of the challenges currently facing carbon markets and provides some much-needed perspective on new markets. 

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

Pine regeneration efforts often deviate from work in hardwoods due to genetic advances we have made in available planting stock choices. For this reason, artificial regeneration is typically chosen by land managers wishing to regenerate pines. Join Shaun and Brady, along with their guest speaker, Dr. Michael Blazier, Dean of College of Forestry, Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Arkansas at Monticello, as they discuss history, current methodology, and what research tells us regarding artificial regeneration of pines.

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

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Forestland and its subsequent management are still sound investments! Join us in this episode of Timber University as we discuss some of the things you should consider when investing in natural resources. We also discuss how timber value varies depending upon a different location and onsite factors.

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

Be sure to subscribe directly to Timber University and follow NRU on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

In this episode of Timber University, we discuss natural regeneration methodology in hardwood systems. When biologically possible, natural regeneration is the cheapest option available to the forest landowner wishing to regenerate a hardwood stand. However, considerable footwork is usually necessary to employ these techniques.

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

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Join Timber University and special guest John Gruchy, a Wildlife Biologist with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. John is the Coordinator of the Private Lands Program, including the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). John discusses the finer points of managing the forest with prescribed fire and gives some insights for where landowners can go to gain the needed skills to set burns with confidence.  

John Gruchy john.gruchy@wfp.ms.gov

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

Pine beetle outbreaks are usually not the result of one stress factor, but the cumulative result of several possible variables that lower pine vigor. Join us, along with Dr. John Riggins, Mississippi State University, as we discuss pine beetle biology and environmental conditions leading up to problems with pine beetles.

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

In this episode we speak with Dr. Kevin Boston from the University of Arkansas at Monticello to discuss a recent landmark Supreme Court decision Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024) that overturned a long-standing precedent for federal agency authority on interpreting intent of Congressional legislation. 

Dr. Boston received a Ph.D. In Forest Engineering at Oregon State University (1996) and has a JD, from the Northwest School of Law at Lewis and Clark College (2016). Dr. Boston has been working in the field of forestry as a registered forester across the globe since the early 80s and has submitted an Amicus Curiae to the Supreme Court for Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center case from 2012-2013. 

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

Today, we are joined by a special guest Alicia Robbins, who is Vice President of Portfolio Analytics and Business Development with Weyerhaeuser. She discusses the basics of forestry carbon and the fledging forest carbon market. If you don’t know anything about these markets this is the episode for you. It will be the first of many podcasts on the subject, as we dive into this new world that forest landowners are primed to take a leading role in.

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

In this, the first episode of Timber University, we explain our goals for the podcast, what we intend on covering, and who would benefit from listening. We also discuss our backgrounds and career paths that led us to working for the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

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

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Prior to active silvicultural management, natural regeneration propagated pine species across the South for millennia. Join the Timber University team and their guest, Dr. Michael Blazier with the University of Arkansas at Monticello, as they discuss this and what options still exist for the land manager wanting to utilize developed silvicultural techniques available for naturally regenerating pines. 

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

Be sure to subscribe directly to Timber University and follow NRU on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

When natural regeneration options are off the table, artificial regeneration methods are the only option available to the landowner wanting to establish a hardwood forest. Join us as we discuss planting stock choices and what research tells us about their use.

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

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Dr. John Auel is the Certification Programs Director for the Mississippi Forestry Association. Join us in this episode of Timber University as we discuss best management practices with John and how this style of management serves to maintain environmentally sound timber management.

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

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