As part of the forest stand improvement plan and oak regeneration work he is completing on his land, David Ray is working to remove trees from the understory and allow more light to reach the forest floor. Ray purchased 310 acres of forestland in Jackson County, IN in 1995 to use for recreational purposes including hunting, hiking and foraging. Ray enrolled his land, pictured May 24, 2022, in NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program in 2017 for forest stand improvement and brush management. After the conclusion of his EQIP contract, he enrolled the acres in NRCS’ Conservation Stewardship Program to complete herbaceous weed treatment, help facilitate oak forest regeneration, and plant conservation cover for pollinators and beneficial insects. Ray said his and his family’s goal is to make each of 310 acres as good as they can be, and he has a four-year rotation that enables him to go through every acre of the woods and make improvements. (NRCS photo by Brandon O’Connor)