Agroforestry: Creating Opportunities for Productive Conservation Women, Food and Agriculture Network Nebraska City, NE November 4-5, 2016
Outline What is agroforestry? An overview of agroforestry practices Why use agroforestry? Where does agroforestry come from? How can you use USDA programs to support your goals related to agroforestry?
What is Agroforestry? The intentional integration of agriculture and forestry to create productive and sustainable farms, ranches, and woodlands.
Permaculture Sustainable agriculture Agroforestry Organic agriculture Holistic management Agroecology Climate smart agriculture Perennial agriculture
Permaculture Agroforestry Sustainable agriculture Organic agriculture Shared values Different emphases Complementary Holistic management Climate smart agriculture Agroecology Perennial agriculture What do they have in common? How can they support each other?
What is Agroforestry? The intentional integration of agriculture and forestry to create productive and sustainable farms, ranches, and woodlands. Intentional Integrated Interactive Intensive
Where does agroforestry come from? Many indigenous communities have long histories of managing crops under forest canopies and with trees Many Tribal communities and programs are using agroforestry-related practices to achieve resource objectives that integrate local values Many producers have benefited from these indigenous agroforestry methods
Where does agroforestry fit in? Agroforestry is part of a larger sustainable agriculture system
Local and Regional Food Systems
Local and Regional Food Systems Cooperatives Elderberry Hazelnut Aronia Chestnut
Climate Change Northeast Hub s As if you were there virtual network of demonstration sites Southern Plains Hub s role in windbreak renovation
Pollinators
Can be added to many types of agriculture and forestry operations United States Department of Agriculture Why use agroforestry? Integrating conservation into agriculture for multiple functions Working lands conservation opportunity: opportunity to achieve conservation outcomes while keeping land in production Multiple crops from the same acre long and short term income
Ecological benefits Clean water and air Wildlife habitat Supports pollinators Clean renewable energy Sequesters carbon
Economic benefits Produces salable products Provides value-added opportunities Diversifies risk Increases property values Increases crop yields & livestock production May be eligible for cost-share & land rental payments
Social benefits Opportunities for learning and teaching Development of cooperatives for value added processing Sustainable family farms and ranches
Most Common Temperate Agroforestry Systems Windbreaks Riparian buffers Silvopasture Alley cropping Forest farming putting the right plants, in the right location, for the right reason.
..the intentional integration of agriculture and working trees to create sustainable farming and ranching systems Windbreaks Riparian buffers Silvopasture Alley cropping Forest farming
..the intentional integration of agriculture and working trees to create sustainable farming and ranching systems Windbreaks Riparian buffers Silvopasture Alley cropping Forest farming
..the intentional integration of agriculture and working trees to create sustainable farming and ranching systems Windbreaks Riparian buffers Silvopasture Alley cropping Forest farming
..the intentional integration of agriculture and working trees to create sustainable farming and ranching systems Windbreaks Riparian buffers Silvopasture Alley cropping Forest farming
..the intentional integration of agriculture and working trees to create sustainable farming and ranching systems Windbreaks Riparian buffers Silvopasture Alley cropping Forest farming
Riparian Forest Buffers Riparian forest buffers are natural or planted woodlands adjacent to water bodies. They are designed with trees, shrubs, and grasses to protect water resources from non-point source pollution.
Riparian Forest Buffers Benefits Flood protection Protect aquatic habitat Protect stream banks Income source (timber and specialty products) Improve water quality Enhance wildlife habitat
Riparian Forest Buffers Multifunctional Riparian Forest Buffers: are people more likely to retain riparian forest buffers if they include edible and income-producing species?
Riparian Forest Buffers Non-Timber Forest Product Calculator: http://nac.unl.edu/tools/ntfp.htm
Windbreaks (and Hedgerows) Plantings of single or multiple rows of trees or shrubs that redirect or modify the wind and are established for one or more environmental purposes.
Windbreak Benefits Increase crop yields Shelter livestock Reduce erosion and pesticide drift Protect plants Improve irrigation use Manage snow Reduce energy costs Mitigate odors and dust Provide wildlife habitat Sequester carbon Grow additional crops
Windbreaks Windbreak/Crop Yield Study Windbreaks are being removed Perception that windbreaks are no longer needed Need recent studies evaluating benefits
Windbreaks Windbreak/Crop Yield Study Uses yield monitor data to determine windbreak effectiveness Multiple sets of data over a period of years from different locations and producers will improve the statistical reliability of the study Partners include North Dakota State and Kansas State
Silvopasture Combines timber, livestock, and forage production on the same acreage. Trees provide longer-term returns, while livestock generate an annual income.
Silvopasture Benefits Lower animal stress Heat stress Cold stress Diversified income: annual (grazing, hay, hunting) and longterm income (timber)
Silvopasture Pasture into trees: Research Minnesota On-Farm Silvopasture Research Diomy Zamora, UMN Extension Compares forest grazing, silvopasture, and open pasture weight gain and costs Demonstrates what silvopasture looks like
Silvopasture: Research Silvopasture Multispecies Grazing: Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, Lincoln University Use animal grazing behavior
Forest Farming The intentional manipulation, integration, and intensive management of woodlands under a managed forest canopy to produce non-timber products.
Forest Farming Benefits Improve economic value of existing forests keep forests as forests Diversify income
Forest Farming (Multi-Story Cropping) extension Forest Farming Community of Practice: http://www.extension.org/forest_farming Forest Farming on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/exforestfarming/
Alley Cropping Growing an annual or perennial crop simultaneously in the alley ways between rows of a long term tree crop. The agricultural crop generates annual income while the longer-term tree crop matures.
Alley Cropping Benefits Diversify farm enterprise Reduce erosion Improve water quality Protect crops Improve utilization of nutrients Enhance wildlife habitat Store carbon
Savanna Institute Alley Cropping University of Illinois Woody Perennial Polyculture Research Site
How can you use USDA programs to help meet your goals?
Additional Resources Finding Agroforestry in the Farm Bill issue of Inside Agroforestry USDA New Farmers Website: https://newfarmers.usda.gov/ Discovery Tool
USDA Support Technical assistance Financial assistance Incentive payments Rental payments Easement payments Stewardship payments Support for other parts of the farm operation Support for other parts of the supply chain
USDA Support Training & Education Establishment Farm operation
USDA Support Training & Education SARE, BFRDP, SCRI, VAPG Establishment EQIP, CRP, CREP Farm operation Loans, NAP, WFRP, VAPG, CSP
Training & Education National Institute of Food and Agriculture s Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education
SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant Direct Marketing Non-Traditional Perennial Berry Varieties: This project addressed marketing challenges for elderberry, currants, honeyberry, and Saskatoon through engaging consumers and understanding processing options, marketing messages, and pricing based on labor and other costs in polyculture systems.
Training & Education NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) Build coalition of forest farmer members; educate, train, and support 400 beginning forest farmers in at least across 6 states; and train 80 extension and state agency personnel on resource assessment and habitat management. appalachianforestfarmers. org/
Training & Education NIFA s Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative: This initiative aims to support the growth and commercialization of hazelnut. (NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant to University of Minnesota)
Training & Education Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) Oregon Woodland Cooperative: The Oregon Woodland Cooperative received three Value- Added Producer Grants to research cultivating edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms native to their forests, and extracting essential oils from Oregon grape.
Establishment Environmental Quality Incentives Program Alley Cropping (311) Multi-Story Cropping (379) Riparian Forest Buffers (391) Silvopasture Establishment (381) Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (380) Windbreak/Shelterbelt Restoration (650) Conservation Stewardship Program Conservation Reserve Program Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Establishment Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Don and Ann English at Happy Hollow Farm, Stewartstown, PA: Don and Ann used the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program to establish a riparian buffer that includes berries, tree fruit and other food products.
Farm Operation FSA Farm storage facility loans including microloans FSA Direct and Guaranteed Farm Loans Women are targeted for a portion of these loans FSA Down payment loans FSA Microloans Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) Women are eligible for a waiver of the service fee and a 50% premium reduction Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program (WFRP)
Farm Operation NIFA s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Empire Chestnuts & Route 9 Cooperative, Carrollton, OH: Received a grant to work on postharvest handling and low-cost peeling (shelling) process.
Additional Resources Finding Agroforestry in the Farm Bill issue of Inside Agroforestry USDA New Farmers Website: https://newfarmers.usda.gov/ Discovery Tool
USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC) USFS and NRCS partnership Mission: accelerate the application of agroforestry through a national network of partners USDA National Agroforestry Center Lincoln, Nebraska 68583 http://nac.unl.edu/ Origin: 1990 Farm Bill
USDA National Agroforestry Center FS R&D and S&PF and NRCS Lincoln, NE Non-Timber Forest Products Blacksburg, VA NAC Director Washington, DC Center Director (FS) Admin: 2 Admin Professionals TT&A: 1 Lead FS Agroforester R&D: 3.75 FT Scientists (FS) 1 Assistant FS Agroforester 1 GIS Specialist 1 Information Assistant 1 Technician
Technical Assistance Products Brochures Technical Notes Information Sheets Newsletters Presentations Tools Displays
Technical Assistance Activities Demonstration Sites Agroforestry Training Online Training Workshops Projects with Partners
Research Scientific understanding of agroforestry Research syntheses Models & tools for effective design
Research Topics: Crop and livestock enhancement Water quality Habitat creation and protection Climate change Agroforestry inventory
Questions? Publications available at: http://nac.unl.edu/ To receive quarterly email updates: http://eepurl.com/4hkb1 To join our (paper) mailing list: Email nhammond@fs.fed.us Kate MacFarland USDA National Agroforestry Center kdmacfarland@fs.fed.us
Questions? Do you use agroforestry practices on your farm? Are there natural resource concerns agroforestry can help address? What are your concerns about agroforestry? Do you know who to turn to for more agroforestry information? What networks are needed to support you? Kate MacFarland USDA National Agroforestry Center kdmacfarland@fs.fed.us