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A Woodland Management Moment: Black Walnut in Pine Plantation

Posted on December 19th, 2025 in Forestry, Forests and Street Trees, Urban Forestry, Woodlands | No Comments »

Join Purdue Extension forester Lenny Farlee in this episode of “A Woodland Management Moment” as he discusses the presence of black walnut within a pine plantation. This episode explores how hardwood species like black walnut can become established in planted pine stands and what that means for woodland management decisions. Watch the video to learn about opportunities, challenges and considerations for managing mixed-species woodlands over time.

A good resource to learn more is the Walnut Council website. Founded in 1970, the Walnut Council is an international association representing nearly 700 woodland owners, foresters, forest scientists, and wood-producing industry representatives in 45 states and three foreign countries. The purpose is to assist in the technical transfer of forest research to field applications, help build and maintain better markets for wood products and nut crops, and to promote sustainable forest management, conservation, reforestation, and utilization of American black walnut (Juglans nigra) and other high quality fine hardwoods.

If you have any questions regarding trees, forests, wildlife, wood products, or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
The Nature of Oaks Webinar, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel, Shared from Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners Video Series, Playlist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Ask an Expert: Tree Selection and Planting, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Find an Indiana Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
Purdue Arboretum Explorer

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

ID That Tree: Sugarberry

Posted on December 12th, 2025 in Forestry, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

In this edition of ID That Tree, Purdue Extension Forester Lenny Farlee introduces us to sugarberry, a native relative of hackberry that can be found throughout Indiana. Often overlooked among other hardwoods, this species has its own distinctive features and ecological role. Learn about where it grows, how it fits into our woodland landscapes and what sets it apart from its close cousins. Whether you’re a student, landowner or simply interested in the rees you see along rivers and lowlands, this video provides a quick introduction to sugarberry in Indiana.

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:
ID That Tree – Video Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Habitat University, Episode 12 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association
District Forester, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 10+ acres
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

Learn How to Control Reed Canarygrass

Posted on December 8th, 2025 in Forestry, Invasive Plant Species, Wildlife | No Comments »

Uncover the challenges posed by reed canarygrass, an invasive perennial grass that threatens conservation plantings, wetlands and low-lying areas. This guide details control options for reed canarygrass. Essential for conservationists and land managers dedicated to preserving native ecosystems: Reed Canarygrass Control.

Check out the Managing Conservation Plantings Series which include details on how to control invasive species and other problematic plants in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plantings and native warm-season grass and wildflower conservation plantings.

Publications in this series include:

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Benefits of a Real Christmas Tree, Hoosier Ag Today Podcast

Posted on December 5th, 2025 in Christmas Trees, Forestry, Woodlands | No Comments »

Hoosier Ag Today – Your Farm Podcast: On the latest episode of the “Your Farm” podcast, C.J. Miller chats with Lenny Farlee from Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources, about the environmental and sustainability benefits of a having a real Christmas tree in your home this holiday season.

“It’s a great family experience and there is also some really significant environmental benefits to using live trees as your Christmas tree decorations.” — Lenny Farlee, Purdue FNR extension forester.

Looking for the perfect Christmas tree but feeling overwhelmed by all the options? Whether you’re debating between fir, pine, or cedar, this podcast has you covered! Join Lenny as he shares expert tips and the key questions every first-time buyer should ask to find the tree that fits your home and your holiday dreams.

Watch the YouTube video from the podcast episode 5 The Benefits of a Real Christmas Tree in Your Home!

The “Your Farm” Podcast is one of the many new podcasts available as Hoosier Ag Today presents YOUR Purdue Extension—a Podcast Network!

About Hoosier Ag Today
Hoosier Ag Today is Indiana’s leading agricultural news network, dedicated to providing timely, relevant and credible information for the state’s farming community. It delivers farm news, market updates, weather forecasts and analysis through the largest network of local radio stations in Indiana, as well as digital platforms like its website, podcasts, e-newsletter and mobile app. Founded in 2006, Hoosier Ag Today serves as a trusted source for farmers and agribusiness leaders to stay informed about state, national and international agricultural developments.

Resources:
A Choose-and-Cut Pine and Fir Christmas Tree Case Study, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Living Christmas Trees For The Holidays and Beyond, The Education Store
Tips for First-Time Buyers of Real Christmas Trees, The Education Store
Growing Christmas Trees, The Education Store
Selecting an Indiana-Grown Christmas Tree, The Education Store
Winterize Your Trees, The Education Store
Tree Installation: Process and Practices, The Education Store
What do Treed Do in the Winter?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
Forest/Timber Playlist, subscribe to Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Ask the Expert: Holidays in the Wild, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
ID That Tree: Balsam Fir, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
ID That Tree: Scotch Pine, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
To identify other pine trees view ID That Tree, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Purdue Plant Doctor, Purdue Extension

C.J. Miller, Assistant News Director
Hoosier Ag Today

Diana Evans, Extension & Web Communications Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

A Woodland Management Moment: Butternut Disease and Breeding

Posted on December 1st, 2025 in Forestry, Forests and Street Trees, Woodland Management Moment, Woodlands | No Comments »

Join Purdue Extension forester Lenny Farlee in this episode of “A Woodland Management Moment” as he highlights the breeding programs with the native Indiana tree Butternut. This episode introduces viewers to the once frequently found species and why there’s been a notable decline in its population. Watch the video to learn the reason behind butternut’s decline, how we have been trying to combat that with conservation efforts and details about how butternut grows.

If you have any questions regarding trees, forests, wildlife, wood products, or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:

ID That Tree: Butternut
Hardwoods of the Central Midwest: Butternut
Hardwood Lumber and Veneer Series: Butternut, The Education Store
Morton Arboretum: Butternut
Identification of Butternuts and Butternut Hybrids, The Education Store
Conservation and Management of Butternut Trees, The Education Store
The Plight of the Butternut
HTIRC Seed Propagation Protocol for Purdue and Hybrid Butternut
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Butternut, Native Tree of Indiana River Walk, Purdue Fort Wayne
The Woody Plant Seed Manual, U.S. Forest Service
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners Video Series, Playlist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Ask an Expert: Tree Selection and Planting, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Find an Indiana Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
Purdue Arboretum Explorer

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

Controlling Introduced Cool-Season Grasses

Posted on December 1st, 2025 in Forestry, Invasive Plant Species, Wildlife | No Comments »

Discover how to manage non-native cool-season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass in native conservation plantings. This guide reveals how these invasive species form dense sod layers, which limits wildlife mobility, and also provides control options for these invasive species. Controlling Introduced Cool-Season Grasses is essential for anyone dedicated to preserving native ecosystems and enhancing biodiversity.

Publications in this series include:

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Red in Winter – What Are Those Red Fruits I See?

Posted on December 1st, 2025 in Forestry, Plants, Urban Forestry, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

Once the leaves have fallen and the landscape is dominated by shades of brown and gray, bright colors like red catch our attention. There are several red fruits that we may encounter in the late fall and winter here in Indiana that add some color to the landscape. These fruits are retained on trees and shrubs for a variety of reasons. Some are not as palatable to wildlife, so they are eaten later in the season. Some are more resistant to freeze damage and thus cling to branches longer than delicate fruits. There may also be an advantage to their appearance. Many of these plants have seeds dispersed by wildlife like birds, which eat the seeds and excrete them later, providing an opportunity to produce new plants away from the parent. Many birds can see much of the same color spectrum we do, plus enhanced vision in the ultra-violet bands. Brightly-colored seeds with waxy skins may reflect more ultra-violet light and be more noticeable to the birds.

What are some of those red fruits?
One family of plants accounts for several red fruit we can see in late fall and winter, the rose family. This family includes apples, plums, cherries, hawthorns, pears and others as well as the roses. In Indiana we have several hawthorns (Crataegus species) that produce a fruit resembling a tiny apple. These vary in size by species but are typically ¼ to ½ inch diameter and often held in clusters. Hawthorns are typically small trees and may have long thin thorns on the twigs.

Image showcasing various hawthorn fruit. — Figure 1 – Hawthorn Fruit

Picture of crabapple fruit — Figure 2 – Crabapple Fruit

Another rose family member are the apples and crabapples with some small native trees like sweet crabapple, Malus coronaria, and several varieties of fruit-bearing apples and ornamental crabapples planted but sometimes escaping to natural areas. While our native crabapples are usually about 1-2 inches diameter and green to yellow, the domesticated apples and crabapples often have red fruit in various sizes from large apples to ½ inch diameter crabapples.

Image showcasing multiflorarosefruit. — Figure 3 – Multiflora Rose Fruit

Picture of native wild rose fruit — Figure 4 – Native Wild Rose Fruit

We also have several beautiful native roses in Indiana, and a particularly problematic exotic invasive rose in multiflora rose. Unfortunately, you are more likely to encounter multiflora rose with small ¼ inch clusters of red fruit. Our native roses typically have larger fruit and fewer fruit per cluster.

Image showcasing Winterberry Fruit. — Figure 5 – Winterberry Fruit

Picture of American Holly fruit and also foliage. — Figure 6 – American Holly Fruit & Foliage

Holly is also noted for red fruit and some being evergreen as well. Our native Indiana hollies are all deciduous, losing their leaves in the fall but often retaining the red fruit on the female plants into winter. The most widespread species is winterberry, Ilex verticillate, a shrub which is seeing more use ornamentally due to its striking red fruit held past Christmas most years. American holly, an evergreen broadleaved tree, is well-known for its glossy, spiny foliage and red fruit on the female trees. Although not native to Indiana, it is spreading from plantings into natural areas. Several evergreen hollies from Europe and Asia are also common in ornamental plantings and may escape into natural areas.

Not only are these late-season showy fruit attractive, but they also provide some important nourishment for wildlife when the many other fruits are long-gone.

Resources:
Ask An Expert: Holidays in the Wild, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Selecting a Real Christmas Tree, Got Nature? Blog Post, Purdue Extension – FNR
Tips on How You Can Recycle Your Christmas Tree, Got Nature? Blog Post, Purdue Extension – FNR
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
ID That Tree: Prickly Ash, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Tree Installation: Process and Practices, The Education Store
Tree Planting Part 1: Choosing a Tree, video, The Education Store

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

Managing Common and Cut Leaved Teasel

Posted on November 24th, 2025 in Forestry, Invasive Plant Species, Wildlife | No Comments »

Discover how to effectively manage the invasive common and cut-leaved teasel, which threatens open areas like prairies, savannas, sedge meadows, roadsides and conservation plantings. This publication provides essential information for exploring effective control options. Essential reading for conservationists and land managers interested in grassland ecosystems: Teasel Control (Common and Cut Leaved).

Publications in this series include:

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Extension Team Wins Family Forests Comprehensive Education Award

Posted on November 21st, 2025 in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

The Purdue FNR extension team was named as a recipient of the Family Forests Comprehensive Education Program Award presented by the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA) and National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP).

The award, which is the nation’s top honor for forestry extension programming, recognizes superior performance across nine rigorous criteria, celebrating the standard of excellence for the profession. Drs. Zhao Ma and Mike Saunders received the award on the team’s behalf at the NAUFRP annual meeting at the 2025 Society of American Foresters (SAF) national convention in Hartford, Connecticut, in October.

The Family Forests Comprehensive Education Program Award criteria includes:

Faculty involved (including number and multi-disciplinary involvement)
Educational needs assessment (including involvement of clients)
Educational materials, events and other resources used
Applied research incorporated
Collaborations among disciplines, agencies and organizations
Results, impacts or outcomes
Evidence of program quality
Degree of innovation
Emulation of the program by others

NAUFRP extension chair Bill Hubbard, who oversaw the competition said “After a thorough review by our three judges and myself, the committee determined that both the University of Minnesota and Purdue University programs demonstrated such profound and differentiated excellence across the nine core criteria that it was decided to recognize them both.”

According to the NAUFRP announcement, “Purdue’s program was honored for its massive scale, its deep connection to a long-term research asset, and its commitment to building future workforce capacity.”

Program highlights include:

HEE Integration: The program directly integrates findings from the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE)—a 100-year research study—into its curriculum, providing landowners with unbiased, real-time data on management issues like oak/hickory regeneration and wildlife response to timber harvest.
Economic & Ecological Scale: The program supports the multibillion-dollar hardwood industry by having an impact on over 57,000 acres and engaging a network of tens of thousands of landowners through its extensive publications.
Curricular Innovation: Purdue was recognized for its pioneering move to formally incorporate Extension training into its undergraduate and graduate curricula, ensuring the next generation of forestry professionals is equipped with crucial outreach skills.

The Purdue team includes five faculty and nine professional staff members. Over the past five years, the group boasts many standout accomplishments including:

Development of publications that have been downloaded more than 2.1 million times
Publication and dissemination of the Indiana Woodland Steward newsletter, which has reached more than 31,000 family forest owners, impacting more than 1.2 million acres
Creation of 215 training programs, which reached more than 50,000 landowners, impacting more than 57,000 acres of woodlands
Production of 249 videos, downloaded more than 750,000 times, and 38 podcast episodes, reaching more than 50,000 listeners in the United States alone. Videos can be accessed on the FNR Extension YouTube channel. The Habitat University podcast is available as part of the Natural Resources University network.
Awarded more than $4.4 million in extramural funding for faculty and staff
Formally incorporated undergraduate and graduate students in Extension at the programmatic level

In the nomination packet, team personnel stated “We aim to address family forest owner needs through collaboration with many stakeholders. Our family forest education serves family forest owners, professional advisors, an industry that receives most of their product base from family forests and the general public who influence policy decisions affecting family forest owners. Our program focuses on adoption or maintenance of stewardship practices (e.g., invasive plant control, timber harvesting), developing or improving forestland planning, and engaging peer and professional advice. In doing these, family forest owners can make informed decisions that meet their personal land management objectives while enhancing the resource for all residents.”

Team members include:

Jarred Brooke – Extension wildlife specialist; Specializing in wildlife conservation, habitat management and deer impact
Diana Evans – Extension and web communications specialist; Specializing in website design and communications
Lenny Farlee – Extension forester; Specializing in forest regeneration, hardwood management and genetics
Dr. Rado Gazo – professor of wood processing and industrial engineering; Specializing in secondary wood products manufacturing processes
Dr. Eva Haviarova – professor of wood products; Specializing in strength design and product engineering of furniture and product sustainability
Liz Jackson – engagement specialist with the Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners, Walnut Council and Purdue Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center; Specializing in black walnut, oaks and landowner engagement
Dr. Doug Jacobs – Fred M. van Eck professor of forest biology; Specializing in forest ecology, silviculture, regeneration and restoration
Dr. Brian MacGowan – Extension wildlife specialist and extension coordinator; Specializing in wildlife habitat management, wildlife conservation and wildlife damage
Wendy Mayer – communications coordinator; Specializing in social media and communications
Jessica Outcalt – natural resources training specialist; Specializing in natural resources, conservation and professional development
Henry Quesada – professor, assistant director of Extension and ANR program leader; Specializing in wood products, hardwood lumber, biomaterials, hardwood markets and industry
Ron Rathfon – regional extension forester; Specializing in forest management, timber marketing, tree planting, oak regeneration and ecology and invasive vegetation management
Dr. Mike Saunders – professor of ecology and natural resources; Specializing in disturbance-based silviculture, growth and yield, modeling, disturbance ecology and management effects on wood quality.
Kat Shay – HEE forest project coordinator; Specializing in environmental science and restoration

From 2020 to 2024, the FNR Family Forest Education extension team conducted 788 programs, covering 1,005 sessions and including more than 50,000 individual contacts.

To view the original article along with other news and stories posted on the Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources website view: FNR Extension Team Receives Family Forests Comprehensive Education Award.

Resources:
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Wildlife Habitat Hint YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Woodland Management Moment YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Invasive Species YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner Course – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Report Invasive Species, Purdue Invasive Species
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Indiana Woodland Steward Institute
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE)
Hardwood Tree Improvement & Regeneration Center (HTIRC)
Help the Hellbender
The Nature of Teaching
Pond and Wildlife Management, website
Sustainable Communities and Community Planning, Purdue Extension
Subscribe Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Wendy Mayer, FNR Communications Coordinator
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Crownvetch, Sweetclover and Birdsfoot Trefoil Control

Posted on November 17th, 2025 in Forestry, Invasive Plant Species, Wildlife | No Comments »

Discover the impact of non-native legumes like crownvetch, sweetclover, and birdsfoot trefoil on grasslands and conservation plantings. This guide provides control options for these non-native legumes. Essential reading for conservationists and land managers interested in grassland ecosystems: Crownvetch, Sweetclover and Birdsfoot Trefoil Control.

Publications in this series include:

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

« Older Entries

Purdue University - Extension - Forestry and Natural Resources

Forestry & Natural Resources

Got Nature? Blog

A Woodland Management Moment: Black Walnut in Pine Plantation

ID That Tree: Sugarberry

Learn How to Control Reed Canarygrass

Benefits of a Real Christmas Tree, Hoosier Ag Today Podcast

A Woodland Management Moment: Butternut Disease and Breeding

Controlling Introduced Cool-Season Grasses

Red in Winter – What Are Those Red Fruits I See?

Managing Common and Cut Leaved Teasel

Extension Team Wins Family Forests Comprehensive Education Award

Crownvetch, Sweetclover and Birdsfoot Trefoil Control

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