Kansas Forest Service

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2025 Kansas Agroforestry Award

For more than three decades, Jim and Janet have thoughtfully restored and protected their land through extensive riparian forest buffer plantings—work that has improved soil health, enhanced wildlife habitat, and safeguarded local waterways.

2025 Forest Stewardship Tree Farmer of the Year

For the last five decades, Floyd and Sue have been exceptional stewards of the forest, prairie, and cropland within their 172 acres and have generously shared their expertise with their community.

19th Emerald Ash Borer Detection in Kansas

On October 27th, Kansas Forest Serivce, along with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, confirmed the presence of Emerald Ash Borer in Marshall County. This detection marks the 19th confirmed county with Emerald Ash Borer since the insect was first found in 2012.

Kansas Champion Pecan Tree

A grove of massive pecan trees home to the Kansas champion pecan tree. The Kansas Champion Tree Program, coordinated by Kansas Forest Service and American Forests, maintains records of the largest tree of each species growing in the state.

Detecting and Tracking the Spread of Emerald Ash Borers in Kansas

It has been nearly 25 years since the emerald ash borer (EAB) was first detected in the United States. Since then, it has spread to at least 37 states, including Kansas, where it was first confirmed in 2012 in Wyandotte County. Today, 18 Kansas counties have verified EAB infestations, and the trend shows no signs of slowing.

The Volunteer Fire Departments Protecting Rural Kansas Face an Emergency – Finding Enough Joiners

Kansas is disproportionately reliant on volunteer firefighters. There are 499 departments across the state, 90% of them volunteer or mostly volunteer. Among the 50 states, Kansas ranks 17th for the proportion of fire service provided by all-volunteer or mostly volunteer firefighters. But Kansas fire officials say finding new volunteers to sustain that service is increasingly difficult.

Rooted in communities: Kansas Forest Service cultivates canopies of a precious state resource

You may not think about it often, but you have a favorite tree, Matthew Norville bets. Maybe it's a droopy weeping willow that you wove through as a kid in your grandma's backyard. Or a towering, mature oak older than the city park it shades. It might even be a young evergreen at the town crossroads that shines bright with decoration each winter for the holidays.

 

For new media requests, reach out to our Communications Coordinator.