CAPITAL IDEAS -- LIVE!
AUGUST 2025 News Conference for Forest Owners
Produced by the Alabama Forest Owners' Association, Inc.
This Conference was recorded at 10:00 A.M. Central Time on
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2025 with a live audience.
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Hayes D. Brown
starting time: (00:00) |
Moderator
Hayes D. Brown, attorney and forest owner, will moderate this news
conference. Hayes' email address is
hbrown@afoa.org.
Click Here to View & Hear Prior News Conferences.
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SEARCH |
Capital Ideas - Live!
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by the Alabama Forest Owners' Association with the support of the
Bradley/Murphy Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Trust.
Visit
www.ForesterSearch.com |
Stacy Newstead
(01:01) |
Charged By Nature: Wood Waste Goes High Tech
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.
Suggested Reading:
Phone: 301-233-3331
Email:
stacy.newstead@carbonscape.com
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Tyler McCaughn
(03:53) |
Mills and Motives: Fighting Bias in Timber Markets
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.
Phone: 601-359-2220
Email:
tmccaughn@senate.ms.gov
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Drew Metzler
(09:47) |
A Deadly Invader: Emerald Ash Borer Hits Alabama
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.
Suggested Reading:
Phone: 334-274-5507
Email:
drew.metzler@forestry.alabama.gov
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Mykel Taylor
(14:31) |
Foreign Roots, Local Land
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.
Suggested Reading:
Phone: 334-844-4816
Email: mrt0055@auburn.edu
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