This week on the FarmHouse, a podcast by Lancaster Farming, we're talking with Kathy Smith, the program director for the Ohio Woodland Stewards Program at Ohio State University.
Smith knew early on that she wanted to work outside and was interested in natural resource management. Forestry felt like a natural fit.
"I appreciate being able to understand the trees and how we can utilize trees to solve problems, make things better, and also help landowners to deal with the issues that they have," Smith said.
Smith spent the first 11 years of her career working as a watershed forester with the Ohio Division of Forestry before coming to Ohio State in 2001.
As the program director, Smith works closely with farmers on how they can integrate trees into their operations.
"A lot of times you're looking at things like windbreaks that would, if placed properly, increase crop production. Or riparian buffers where we can filter out nutrients and pesticides before they hit the body of water," Smith said.
She also advises landowners, particularly farmers, on how to use trees to strike a balance between protecting wild animals and limiting their damage to crops.
"Different tree species provide different things for wildlife. So you kind of have to think about is this something that is going to be highly desirable by certain species? Maybe that's not what I want to put in this location," Smith said. "You do have to pay attention to what the tree species are and what those benefits are."
The key, according to Smith, is appreciating that woodlands are a living ecosystem. Living systems change over time, and property owners need to be prepared to tackle new challenges that may come up, like invasive species.
She advises farmers to think of their long-term goals for their land and use those to direct their decisions.
"I always tell landowners, whether it's on a napkin or a piece of paper or just in your head, you kind of need to think about what you want from the woods," Smith said.
