eYield is a decision support system that addresses the needs of small and medium-sized forest landowners in the southern United States, with a focus on hardwood (deciduous) and natural pine forest communities that are typical of forests owned by these landowners. The goal of the program is to assist private landowners in financial and silvicultural decisions that help them manage and sustain their timberland. Ideally, the eYield model will be of value to both private landowners and the state agency personnel and forest consultants who guide them.
The development of the system is supported by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Foundational Program, titled “Improved forest management for small forest landowners through a new decision-making model.” The research program began in March 2018 and is expected to be complete by March 2024.
In addition to team members located at the University of Georgia (Pete Bettinger, Bronson Bullock, Cristian Montes, Krista Merry), the Southern Region Extension Foresters Office (Leslie Boby, Steven Weaver, Daniel J Drummond), and the University of Tennessee (Wayne Clatterbuck), an advisory team (Oversight Committee) consisting of key stakeholders is involved in the development and assessment of eYield. Other organizations (e.g., Tennessee Forestry Association) will be involved in the project as we work with landowners to introduce and assess the model.
The main expected outcome of the program is that small and medium-sized forest landowners will gain economic, environmental, and social benefits through (1) increased efficiency of forest management and (2) improved decision-making processes, both of which can lead to sustainable and healthy forests.