Starting Time: 00:00
Hayes D. Brown, attorney and forest owner, will moderate this news conference.
Hayes’ email address is hbrown@afoa.org.
Starting Time: 01:01
Stacy Newstead is the Director of Business Development in North America for CarbonScape, a New Zealand-based company pioneering a new use for wood cellulose that could have major implications for Alabama forest landowners. Their product – biographite – is a sustainable, carbon-negative alternative to traditional graphite, and it’s made from renewable wood waste. As demand grows for electric vehicles and energy storage, so does the need for battery-grade graphite. Stacy joins us to explain how this innovation works, what it could mean for the forest industry, and why landowners should be paying attention to the opportunities in front of them.
How American Forestry Can Power the U.S. Electric Revolution
Starting Time: 03:53
Mississippi State Senator Tyler McCaughn recently introduced SB2009, a bill aimed at addressing what he sees as a growing concern among private landowners: being turned away by timber mills based solely on how they plan to use their land in the future. Senator McCaughn says this kind of discrimination can create serious barriers for landowners trying to manage and market their timber. If passed, the bill would ensure that all landowners—regardless of their future development plans—have fair access to mill markets. Senator McCaughn joins us to share more about the issue, what he hopes this bill will accomplish, and why it matters for forest owners across the region.
Starting Time: 09:47
Drew Metzler is the Forest Health Coordinator for the Alabama Forestry Commission, and he’s tracking a troubling new development: the emerald ash borer has been confirmed in Jackson County. This invasive insect, first detected in the U.S. in 2002, targets ash trees by tunneling beneath the bark and cutting off the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients—ultimately killing it. While the infestation is currently localized, the presence of emerald ash borer in Alabama is a serious concern for landowners statewide, especially those with valuable hardwood stands. Drew joins us to explain what this means for forest health in Alabama, how landowners can identify the signs, and what steps can be taken to slow the spread.
Starting Time: 14:31
Mykel Taylor is a Professor and the Alfa Endowed Chair in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Auburn University and has spent years studying foreign involvement in U.S. agricultural land—both through ownership and long-term leasing. As interest from international entities grows, so do questions about transparency, land use, and long-term impact on rural communities. Mykel joins us to talk about what her research reveals, how these trends are playing out across the country, and what Alabama landowners should know as the conversation around foreign land interests continues to gain attention.
Choices Magazine: Foreign Interests in U.S. Agricultural Lands: The Missing Conversations about Leasing
