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Abstract: Values derived from woodland management can be enhanced by capitalizing on natural associations of specialty fungi with trees. Mushroom production can be integrated with most management objectives, and provides profitable avenues for recycling low-value forestry by-products. About 65% of the central USA woodland mushroom growers sampled have other primary sources of income, but nearly all consider mushroom growing a part of their career. Nearly all grow Lentinula edodes; about 350/0 grow Pleurotus species. Approximately 90% grow mushrooms outdoors, but half of these also have supplemental indoor operations; 85% would like to expand their business, and over half would like to grow additional species. Growers face both business and technical biological difficulties. Biological challenges involve effective integration of mushroom cultivation into forest management by matching growers' situations with appropriate fungi and cultivation systems, developing techniques which improve biological efficiency, and increasing the variety of options available to growers.
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