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Black Gold

Season 6 | Episode 7

Black Gold

July 1, 2025

Eastern black walnut holds an almost legendary reputation as one of the most valuable timber species in central and eastern North America. A single, high-quality tree can fetch thousands of dollars—sometimes even influencing the outcome of an entire timber sale. With that level of interest, you’d think we’ve uncovered everything there is to know about this remarkable species. And while researchers and foresters have developed extensive knowledge around its silviculture and genetics, there’s still a lot to learn! In this episode of SilviCast, we delve into the silviculture of black walnut with Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester at Purdue University.

 

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GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE

Lenny Farlee

Extension Forester, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center, Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Lenny Farlee is an extension forester with the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC), Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. Lenny graduated with a B.S. in Forest and Wildlife Management in 1985, and a M.S. in Silviculture in 1991, both from Purdue University. He worked with the Indiana Division of Forestry at Vallonia State Tree Nursery from 1988 to 1991 as a nursery forester, producing over 40 species of tree and shrub seedlings. From 1991 to 2006, Lenny was a district forester for the Indiana Division of Forestry serving landowners in a 10 county area.

In January of 2007, Lenny became the extension forester for the HTIRC in Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue. Lenny provides programs and publications in a variety of media directed toward improving the regeneration and sustainable management of high-quality hardwood trees and forests in the Central Hardwood Region.


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Episode Show Notes

Hardwood Tree Improvement Regeneration Center (HTIRC) Publications – Purdue University

Walnut Council

Iowa State University Extension Forestry Reference Handbook contains two black walnut plantation stocking charts set up on the Gingrich stocking chart model.

Why Grow Black Walnut? – Farlee and Bauman

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