S2The first completed annual inventory of Kansas forests reports 2.1 million acres of forest land, roughly 4 percent of the total land area in the State. Softwood forests account for nearly 5 percent of the total timberland area. Oak/hickory forest types make up 56 percent of the total hardwood forest land area. Elm/ash/cottonwood accounts for more than 30 percent of the timberland area. The proportion of Kansas' timberland with trees 19 inches and larger remained about the same over the last 40 years (38 percent in 1965 versus 38 percent today). Kansas' forests have continued to increase in volume. In 2005, net volume of growing stock on timberland was an estimated 1.5 billion cubic feet compared with 0.5 billion cubic feet in 1965. Live-tree biomass on forest land in Kansas amounted to 72.3 million dry tons in 2005. More than 3 percent was in small stands, 26 percent was in medium-size stands, and 71 percent was in large stands. Oak species account for nearly 15 percent. About 95 percent of Kansas forest land is held by private landowners. The first completed annual inventory of Kansas forests reports 2.1 million acres of forest land, roughly 4 percent of the total land area in the State. Softwood forests account for nearly 5 percent of the total timberland area. Oak/hickory forest types make up 56 percent of the total hardwood forest land area. Elm/ash/cottonwood accounts for more than 30 percent of the timberland area. The proportion of Kansas' timberland with trees 19 inches and larger remained about the same over the last 40 years (38 percent in 1965 versus 38 percent today). Kansas' forests have continued to increase in volume. In 2005, net volume of growing stock on timberland was an estimated 1.5 billion cubic feet compared with 0.5 billion cubic feet in 1965. Live-tree biomass on forest land in Kansas amounted to 72.3 million dry tons in 2005. More than 3 percent was in small stands, 26 percent was in medium-size stands, and 71 percent was in large stands. Oak species account for nearly 15 percent. About 95 percent of Kansas forest land is held by private landowners.S3.