Agroforestry
Enriching our lives with trees that work
This presentation was developed by the USDA National Agroforestry Center
What is Agroforestry?
 What are the benefits of agroforestry?
 Where can I get more information on
agroforestry?
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Presentation Objectives
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What is agroforestry?
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…..the intentional combining of agriculture and
working trees to create sustainable farming and
ranching systems.
What is Agroforestry?
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If you are interested in:
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Clean water and air
Safe and healthy food
Abundant wildlife
Beautiful places
Clean renewable energy
Sustainable family farms
and ranches
Why Agroforestry?
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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
Why Agroforestry?
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Here, do this!
Use forestry!
Forestry
Here, do this!
Use agriculture!
Agriculture
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Putting the right plant, in the right place, for the right purpose!
Agroforestry Practices
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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.
Windbreaks
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Reduce energy costs
Screen unsightly areas
Reduce erosion and pesticide drift
Protect plants
Manage snow
Improve irrigation use
Increase crop yields
Shelter livestock
Mitigate odors and dust
Provide wildlife habitat
Enhance aesthetics
Sequester carbon
Windbreak Benefits
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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
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Diversify farm enterprise
Reduce erosion
Improve water quality
Protect crops
Improve utilization of nutrients
Enhance wildlife habitat
Improve aesthetics
Store carbon
Alley Cropping Benefits
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Combines timber, livestock and forage production on the same acreage. Trees
provide longer-term returns, while livestock generate an annual income.
Silvopasture
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Improved plant vigor
Lower animal stress
Reduced wildfire risk
Improved wildlife habitat
Annual income (e.g. grazing, hay,
pine straw, hunting)
 Long-term income (timber)
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Silvopasture Benefits
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The intentional manipulation, integration, and intensive management of
woodlands under a managed forest canopy to produce non-timber products.
Forest Farming
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Improve economic value of existing forests
Diversify income
Increase cash flow
Forest Farming Benefits
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Medicinals
 Handicrafts
 Decoratives
 Food Products
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Forest Farming Products
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Chestnuts
Pecans
Pawpaw
Persimmon
Syrup
Mushrooms
Foods
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Black cohosh
Ginseng
Goldenseal
May apple
Witch-hazel
Pacific yew
Medicinals
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Bittersweet
Red-twig
dogwood
Forsythia
Corkscrew willow
Pine Straw
Decoratives
Specialty Forest Products
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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
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Clean water
Protect aquatic habitat
Enhance wildlife habitat
Protect stream banks
Income source (timber and specialty products)
Flood protection
Riparian Forest Buffer Benefits
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Benefits:
 Reduce on farm energy costs
 Reduce reliance on fossil fuels
 Income source
 Improve soil health
Special Applications (Energy Crops)
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Agroforestry on the farm or ranch
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Agroforestry Means:
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Clean water and air
Safe and healthy food
Abundant wildlife
Beautiful places
Clean renewable energy
Sustainable family farms
and ranches
Summary
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A number of web sites are available to provide more detailed information
on agroforestry systems. Here are a few:
USDA National Agroforestry Center
http://www.unl.edu/nac/
 The Center for Agroforestry
http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/
 Association for Temperate Agroforestry
http://www.aftaweb.org/agroforestry-introduction.php
 The Center for Subtropical Agroforestry
http://sfrc.ifas.ufl.edu/cstaf/
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For Additional Information
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Acknowledgements
This presentation was developed by the
USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC),
Lincoln NE.
NAC is a USDA partnership between the U.S.
Forest Service and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
National
Agroforestry
Center
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A partnership of:
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opportunity provider and employer."
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