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Walnut management on select sites at Bert Farms is a critical part of the farming operations for future revenue and wildlife habitat. -
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Landowners and forestry enthusiasts can learn about management efforts at Bert Farms during the Oct. 2-3 Woodland Owners Conference in Caldwell County. Clay and Kim Shaw, the caretakers of Bert Farms, will be recognized as Missouri’s Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. -
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Bert Farms maintains a pollinator plot to aid monarchs and other butterflies and wildlife that use this area. Bert Farms is part of the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail.
COWGILL, Mo. – Clay and Kim Shaw are being recognized as Missouri’s Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year for their work managing Bert Farms for walnut and pecan, says Brian Schweiss, University of Missouri Extension sustainable forestry specialist.
For the past 15 years, the Shaws have been caretakers of 285 acres of tree plantations and native woods. Landowners and forestry enthusiasts can learn about their management efforts during the 2026 Woodland Owners Conference, Oct. 2-3 in near Cowgill, Mo., in Caldwell County.
“One of the challenges is deciding how best to manage some of these stands,” said Ryan Wansing, property manager for Bert Farms. “The property was planted to trees 20-25 years ago. Some trees are on good sites and some on sites that are not well-suited to walnut and pecan trees.”
Schweiss says an Oct. 3 field tour of Bert Farms will highlight management challenges associated with various site conditions. Topics will include site selection and thinning for healthy trees and wildlife. Of special interest is how soil fertility issues influence growth and if applying lime and fertilizer will improve growth.
Wildlife is another priority at Bert Farms, says Schweiss. The property hosts a good turkey population, and quail can also be found amongst the trees and fields. Attendees will see habitat improvement practices such as edge feathering and learn about managing pollinator habitat.
Pollinator habitat consisting of native flowers is critical for butterflies, including the monarch. Bert Farms is located within the flyway of the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail, a community-driven effort to transform 300 miles along Highway 13 into a vibrant corridor of native wildflowers.
“If you are interested in walnut timber and wildlife, this workshop is the place to be,” says Schweiss.
Presenters include foresters from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Service will talk about fertility and soil health. MU Extension staff will discuss future growth potential. Best of all, according to Schweiss, is an opportunity to network with other landowners who have been managing lands with similar objectives.
Details and registration are on the Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri website.
Registration includes a Friday dinner at the Branded Steakhouse in Richmond, Mo. The evening program will be an awards presentation commemorating the Shaws’ conservation achievements, and a presentation from consulting forester Matt Arndt. Lunch and refreshments are provided on the Saturday field tour.
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Woodland. Landowners and forestry enthusiasts can learn about management efforts at Bert Farms during the Oct. 2-3 Woodland Owners Conference in Caldwell County. Clay and Kim Shaw, the caretakers of Bert Farms, will be recognized as Missouri’s Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year.
Measuring walnut. Walnut management on select sites at Bert Farms is a critical part of the farming operations for future revenue and wildlife habitat.
Bert Farms maintains a pollinator plot to aid monarchs and other butterflies and wildlife that use this area. Bert Farms is part of the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail.
