The Agroforestry Academy: A Crash Course to Educate Natural Resource Professionals and Develop the Knowledge Infrastructure

Transcription

1 Alley Cropping Forest Farming The Agroforestry Academy: A Crash Course to Educate Natural Resource Professionals and Develop the Knowledge Infrastructure Riparian Buffers 1 Michael A. Gold, 2 MAAWG Silvopasture 1 University of Missouri 2 Mid American Agroforestry Working Group Windbreaks

2 The Get Smart Analogy Experience over 25 years has taught us that multiple doors lie between the promise and the reality of widespread agroforestry adoption and utilization It is essential to identify the doors (e.g., culture, tradition, knowledge gaps, science, risk, funding, policy) And do the work to open them

3 Where is all the Agroforestry? Significant advances made in the science and practice of agroforestry over the past 25 years. However, on the ground application of agroforestry practices has lagged. Exception: USDA government subsidized windbreaks and riparian buffers. Creating greater awareness of agroforestry s benefits (financial and ecological) will lead to: Increased acceptance and adoption of agroforestry, Result in increased financial security, Enhance environmental protection for all classes of farmers, ranchers, forest owners, and communities.

4 Background Issues Knowledge Infrastructure The Knowledge Infrastructure for Agriculture Huge information network supporting the landowner Commodity groups (Farm Bureau, Corn and Soybean Growers Assns, Cattlemen, etc.) Agribusiness (e.g., Cargill, ADM, Monsanto, seed and equipment dealers), Certified Crop Advisors (thousands) NRCS/FSA assistance widely available Land Grant University research, education and extension USDA funding programs abundant in supply Farm Bill safety net to offset losses

5 Background Issues Knowledge Infrastructure An Uphill Battle The Knowledge Infrastructure for Agroforestry Paper thin information network supporting the landowner No agribusiness or commodity group support No Land Grant support in research, education or extension No network of advisors No USDA research $$$, no policy support No tradition, no culture High financial risk, no farmer safety nets No value given to non market environmental benefits

6 Chestnut Training Program Graduates Chinese Chestnut Pumpkin Intercrop Napton, MO

7 Chestnut Training Program Graduates Chinese Chestnut Winter Wheat Intercrop Napton, MO

8 *Key Organizations Supporting Development of the Knowledge Infrastructure for Agroforestry Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), 1935 USDA Soil Conservation Service, 1935 (Dustbowl and CCC) University of Guelph, (1 st NAAC), 1989 Iowa State University, Riparian Buffers, Bear Creek, 1990 NAC (Center for Semi Arid Agroforestry), 1990 (USFS/NRCS) Cornell University, Center for the Environment, 1993 AFTA, Association for Temperate Agroforestry, 1993 University of Nebraska Lincoln, Windbreaks UMCA, University of Missouri, AF Consortium CINRAM, University of Minnesota, 1998 (???) Virginia Tech, Forest Farming, ( NC State University, Forest Farming (NCHerb.org) Mid American Agroforestry Working Group (MAAWG), 2009 *List not intended to be complete, others have been involved over time (PENN ST, U of KY, ORE ST, U of FL, U of GA, ARS in W. VA and ARK, )

9 Key Publications Supporting the Development of the Knowledge Infrastructure (list not inclusive) Tree Crops for Energy Co production on Farms, 1980, S.E.R.I. Agroforestry Systems Journal, 1982 present Proceedings of North American Agroforestry Conferences, Agroforestry: An Integrated Land Use Management System for Production and Farmland Conservation, 1994, SCS Proceedings from the Specialty Forest Products/Forest Farming Conference, 1998, CINRAM Agroforestry in the United States, Research and Technology Transfer Needs for the Next Millennium, 2000, AFTA Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways, 2010, NAC Using NRCS Technical and Financial Assistance to Establish Elderberry, 2011, UMCA USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework, Financial Decision Support Tools, 2011, UMCA Training Manual for Applied Agroforestry Practices, 2013, UMCA Handbook for Agroforestry Planning and Design, 2013, UMCA Agroforestry: USDA Reports to America, FY , 2013

10 Agroforestry Adoption 4 P s To achieve agroforestry adoption will require: Partnerships Programs Professionals Peer to Peer Learning The Agroforestry Academy is based on: An established partnership MAAWG Funded by a program NCR SARE PDP Designed to train professionals who will Be involved in follow on Peer to Peer Learning

11 Agroforestry Academy Partnerships Mid American Agroforestry Working Group (MAAWG) MO, NE, IA, MN, WI PIs Michael Gold: University of Missouri, Center for Agroforestry Mihaela Cernusca: University of Missouri, Center for Agroforestry Diomy Zamora: University of Minnesota Jeri Neal: Iowa State University, Leopold Center, MAAWG Shibu Jose: University of Missouri, Center for Agroforestry Larry Godsey: Missouri Valley College (formerly MU Center for Agroforestry) Richard Schultz: Iowa State University Richard Straight: USDA Forest Service, National Agroforestry Center Dusty Walter: University of Missouri (formerly Center for Agroforestry) Andy Mason: USDA Forest Service, National Agroforestry Center (Director) Richard Warner: University of Minnesota, Green Lands Blue Waters Other Trainers Bruce Wight: USDA NRCS National Forester (retired) David Shelton: University of Nebraska John Munsell: Va Tech Doug Wallace: USDA NRCS National Agroforester (retired) Mark Kennedy: NRCS Missouri Farmers 2013 Nicola McPherson: Ozark Forest Mushrooms, MO Dan Shepherd: Shepherd Farms, MO Terry Durham: Eridu Farms, MO Fred Martz Martz Family Farm, MO

12 Agroforestry Academy Program MAAWG via NCR SARE PDP Project Goal and Objectives Goal To achieve on the ground adoption of agroforestry Objectives Create a regional agroforestry knowledge network Train a core group of individuals who deal with land management issues and/or interact with farmers and landowners. Facilitate collaboration among researchers, extension personnel, crop advisors, practitioners, diverse disciplines, departments and colleges, and different agencies and organizations.

13 Agroforestry Academy Professionals Train the Trainer Agriculture and Natural Resource professionals Univ. Extension personnel USDA NRCS, and FSA field staff University faculty (1862, 1890, 1994 regional Colleges or Universities) Sustainable agriculture /permaculture leaders including USDA SARE staff Conservation groups (especially w/tree or forest missions e.g., Trees Forever) and similar organizations from MO, IA, MN, NE, WI Certified Crop Advisors Soil and Water Conservation District personnel Farm Bureau, Farmers Union Others

14 Agroforestry Academy Approach Updated agroforestry training manual. Created new Handbook for Planning/Design. MAAWG/NAC, 3 new agroforestry case studies Monthly teleconference planning meetings w/project team (MAAWG coordinated). Conduct Agroforestry Academy. o Organize and conduct week long Train the trainer Agroforestry Academy, 2013 and o Classroom presentations, field visits to practitioners farms, and a hands on landowner case study group project exercise, with field visits focused on agroforestry planning and design.

15 MAAWG Project Outputs 2013 Awarded SARE PDP grant to hold Agroforestry Academy Updated agroforestry training curricula a) Release and distribution of the updated 2013 Agroforestry Training Manual; and b) New Handbook for Agroforestry Planning and Design. c) New agroforestry case studies. One Agroforestry Academy per year, 2013 and First Academy completed, August 2013 Spin off trainings including other regions A total of 27 professionals from 7 states trained during the 2013 Academy. Online learning community network for academy participants and graduates. a) Recorded workshops will be available online, UMCA website. b) Online directory of agroforestry professionals and practitioners (in process). c) Regional inventory of on the ground applications of agroforestry practices (biggest challenge).

16 Images from the 2013 Academy Dan Shepherd, Pecan Orchard, Alley Cropping Controls Value Chain Terry Durham, Eridu Farms, Elderberries, Creating Industry, Value Added MU Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, Chestnut Production Lincoln Univ., Busby Farm Goat Silvopasture, Control Invasives, Reduce Fire Risk Dr. Andy Mason, Agroforestry Academy Classroom Sessions

17 Post Academy Evaluation and Feedback Participants very satisfied with Academy. Overall quality rated excellent = 71%, good = 29%. Topics covered (4.58), content (4.56), organization (4.56) and time for discussion (4.12) all received high marks (on a 1 5 point scale). Top rated aspects of Academy (5 pt scale) were: farm visits (4.6), silvopasture (4.48), alley cropping (4.2), training manual (4.09), forest farming/windbreaks (4.08), Handbook (4.05), case study (4.0).

18 Post Academy Evaluation and Feedback Major gains in subject matter knowledge N=27 Agroforestry Policy Silvopasture Practices Creating an Agroforestry Plan Marketing Agroforestry Products Agroforestry Extension & Outreach Tax Considerations / Incentives Forest Farming Scale: 1 (nothing), 2 (very little), 3 (some), 4 (quite a bit) and 5 (a lot)

19 Post Academy Evaluation and Feedback 100% indicated that they benefited from information about agroforestry practices 96% motivated to continue learning about agroforestry and to disseminate information about agroforestry 92% motivated to get their organization more involved in agroforestry Important benefits from academy participation the network of participants and trainers resource materials for future use

20 MAAWG / NAC / UMN / UMCA Outputs 2013 Supporting the Development of the Knowledge Infrastructure First International Elderberry Symposium, 2013, MU/UMCA Living Snow Fence Cost Calculator, 2013, Univ. of MN Windbreak Financial Decision Tool, 2013, NAC/UMCA Training Manual for Applied Agroforestry Practices, 2013, UMCA Handbook for Agroforestry Planning and Design, 2013, UMCA Agroforestry Case Study: Chestnuts at Red Fern Farm, 2013, MAAWG/NAC Agroforestry Case Study: Elderberries at East Grove Farm, 2013, MAAWG/NAC Agroforestry Case Study: Silvopasture at Early Boots Farm, 2013, MAAWG/NAC Agroforestry: USDA Reports to America, FY In Brief, 2013, USDA NAC

21 Summary Agroforestry Academy Helping to Develop the Infrastructure Widespread adoption and use requires multiple, integrated, deliberate and opportunistic approaches including the 4 P s (Partnerships, Programs, Professionals, Peer to Peer Learning) achieved through: trained educators (certified agroforesters, online MS and graduate certificate, agroforestry academy) active partnerships, networks top down support (government $ policy) and bottom up (landowners and key organizations) high tech (research breakthroughs) and high touch (oneon one, peer to peer outreach) market driven approach to conservation targeted funding to develop specialty crop industries with detailed financial information to cut risk

22 Topics for Our Afternoon Session The Future of Agroforestry Locally led conservation initiatives Small watershed scale (Cover Crop Champions - NWF, Farm Link) More work on finances, marketing, markets, co-ops More work on the science behind the practices Requires supporting policy changes and funding More trained professionals to promote AF More case studies with real world examples More partnerships, linked communities of interest ? How to scale-up agroforestry outreach?? Role for distance education to bring AF knowledge to a larger audience? Absolutely yes.? What kind of educational/outreach materials do we still need?

23 Questions? / Comments