Minding the Forest

Minding the Forest

We talk about sustainable forestry, how important forests are to Louisiana and its economy and how forests benefit everyone. We also talk about the issues important to the forest products industry.

Episodes

May 15, 2025 28 mins

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Casey Durand of Central Timber Services of Pollock, Louisiana, was selected the 2024 Outstanding Louisiana Logger for the Louisiana Forestry Association and Louisiana Logging Council. Casey takes time to talk about his year with that honor and the state of the logging industry in Louisiana.

Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Association and his hosted by LFA Media Specialist Jeff Zeringue. Commen...

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Jackie Harvey has been blessed to keep The Shades, a tree farm in West Feliciana Parish, in her family for more than 200 years. She is proud of that fact but is especially proud that her son will one day take the reins and carry on a family tradition for another generation. Jackie talks about how her father became a transplanted Louisianan from California and her experiences at the Shades, as well as the importance of...

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Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Director Buck Vandersteen talks about the 2025 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature where insurance and tax reform will be the big issues it will address. How those bills will affect the forest products industry, especially forest landowners and loggers, will be included in the upcoming LFA Legislative Reports. 

If you would like to be added to the list for those updates...

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March 15, 2025 34 mins

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A forester and wildlife biologist is contesting the way wildlife enforcement agents are trained to enter private landowners property without a suspicion of a crime and warrant giving them permission to search the property. The lawsuit is being handled by the Institute for Justice, a Washington-based nonprofit law firm that fights for private property rights. The forester, Tom Manuel, tells his story of what led to the...

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Mr. John Gallaspy has been a Tree Farmer since the 1960s. His father even before that. Raised in DeSoto Parish, but settled in Washington Parish where his late wife was grew up, Mr. Gallaspy reminisces about how there have been changes in forestry. He also is the author of the book, "The City that Refused to Die: Bogalusa the First Hundred Years". 

Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Ass...

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Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple talks about the progress made in 2024 during the Legislative sessions and the hopes for 2025.

Want to contact the Insurance Commissioner's Office, the website is https://ldi.la.gov/ and their phone number is (225) 342-3612.

Gov. Landry's veto of HB 423

Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Association and his hosted by LFA Media...

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December 15, 2024 64 mins

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Each year forestry association directors and communicators from across the southeast United States get together to discuss what each is doing to spread the word about forestry and the forest products industry. This year's topic is Forestry Works, which is a program that started in Alabama and has since spread to 10 states. Minding the Forest teams with Voices of Forestry, a podcast of the Arkansas Forestry Associ...

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Dr. Rich Vlosky had a round-about way to coming to Louisiana, but the LSU researcher has investigated many things about many forest products. Dr. Vlosky talks about his experiences in the forest products industry and the different products he's with which he's worked.

You can contact him at rvlosky@agcenter.lsu.edu.

References about Cross Laminated Timber ...

Fire testing video ...

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October 15, 2024 68 mins

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Yes, there are tree canopies and forests in an urban setting! Paul Johnson, vice president of Urban and Community Forestry and Career Pathways for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and Darren Green, urban forester for the city of Alexandria, Louisiana, talk about the many aspects and benefits of trees in our cities. SFI even has standards that now include urban forestry.

Want to reach out to Darren?...

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September 15, 2024 39 mins

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Brooks Mendell is founder, president and CEO of Forisk Consulting and has been a guest speaker at the Louisiana Forestry Association's annual convention often over the years. His expertise in researching markets and trends is stellar and he is happy to share his knowledge of the forest products industry and the many facets of it. 

Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Association and his hosted...

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August 15, 2024 51 mins

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Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming talks about taxes and potential changes that could be considered in the future by lawmakers. Included are his views on dedicated taxes and tax exemptions.

Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Association and his hosted by LFA Media Specialist Jeff Zeringue. Comments can be sent to jzeringue@laforestry.com.

If you want to find out more about the Sustainable ...

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Invasive species are troublesome for many reasons, but especially because they can harm native species of trees. Be they plants, insects or pathogens. Dr. Jaesoon Hwang and Dr. Wood Johnson of the U.S. Forest Service talk about these inventive pests and what to look out for.

Jaesoon Hwang: jaesoon.hwang@usda.gov

Wood Johnson: Crawford.Johnson@usda.gov

LSU AgCenter Invasive species informati...

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Trey Maxwell was a rising star in high school baseball before joining the college ranks. His drive and determination were strong in the sport, but he knew that wasn't going to be his future. Almost 30 years ago, he took his intensity to start a log truck business, married his then-girlfriend Melinda and soon turned that into a logging business. The two from Sarepta have been through the ups and downs of life, but...

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Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Director Buck Vandersteen talks about how the forestry industry faired during the latest session of the Louisiana Legislature.  Landowners narrowly escaped another try at allowing people to travel on any waterway, even if it isn't traditionally navigable and meanders through private property.  The perpetual attempts at that law closed the gap that has protected property ri...

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Dr. Laura Sims, assistant professor at Louisiana Tech University, is leading a study in the state on Brown Spot Needle Blight (BSNB), a fungus that has spread more among loblolly pine in Louisiana. Although early on in the study, samples of possible BSNB has shown BSNB in several parishes. Landowners who believe they might have BSNB on their trees can contact a regional forester in the Louisiana Department of Agricult...

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April 16, 2024 52 mins

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Melanie and Gaston Lanaux were selected the 2023 Tree Farmer of the Year by the Louisiana Forestry Association for their tree farm, Chardet, in Husser, Louisiana. Affectionately called "The Krumpi", the Lanauxs have enjoyed the rural setting and practicing sustainable forestry. They also have endured two major hurricanes — Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Ida in 2020. The Lanauxs talk about their gem ...

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Louisiana is coming out of an extreme drought as spring rains bring more moisture to the land, but the effects of the extreme, hot drought can last for years. Minding the Forest talks to Jim Meeker and Colin Bonser with the USDA Forest Service about the drought in Louisiana, its effects and for what forest landowners and folks with trees in their yards that have been stressed by the drought should be on the lookout. H...

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March 11, 2024 28 mins

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Episode 37: Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Director Buck Vandersteen talks about the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature which starts Monday, March 11.
If you're an LFA member and want to receive the Legislative Update email newsletter, submit the request by email to lfa@laforestry.com.
Not a member, visit our website to find out more and how you can become a member by clicking here.

Mi...

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Carbon storage is still a new topic for landowners with few acres of forest, but there are programs out there that owners of smaller forests can learn more about carbon storage and their forests. Michael Lauve of NativState talks about this emerging topic for owners of smaller forests and issues landowners need to learn bout to determine whether carbon storage could fit into their forest management plan.

Minding the Fo...

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January 15, 2024 68 mins

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Tax attorney Paul Spillers of Theus, Grisham, Davis & Leigh, is a past president of the Louisiana Forestry Association and makes presentations at forestry forums all over the state. We've taken the opportunity to have Paul talk about the issues he presents at forums.  Please be sure to take this information only as general. No one should take any of the information provided in this episode as legal or tax adv...

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