Great Plains Agroforestry: Evaluation of Bioenergy Feedstock and Carbon Sequestration as
Potential Long-Term Revenue Streams to Diversify Landowner Income
Project Coordinator: Thomas J. Sauer
This project will evaluate the potential of agroforestry plantings to provide bio-based
feedstock, income, investment, and carbon sequestration opportunities in four Great Plains states.
Focus groups and surveys will provide practical feedback on relevance of data for adoption,
practices, and education material content and focus. A survey of owner/operators of identified
marginal land in a case-study region will gauge farmer interests, concerns, and income
thresholds. Using regional yield assessments, per ton feedstock break-even points will be
calculated to predict minimum gate income for feedstock production. Economic assessment will
be complimented by field results with full-cost accounting of potential woody biomass systems.
A crop productivity index will be adapted to identify the distribution of soils that are marginal
for crop production but suitable for tree growth. These ratings and results from the focus groups
and surveys will be used to identify the most relevant tree species and soils for sampling.
Existing agroforestry plantings (field windbreaks and riparian buffers) will be selected for field
sampling, with two locally-representative multispecies plantings studied per state. A novel
technique for estimating aboveground biomass will be tested and used to adjust forest-based
biomass estimates for agroforestry practices using the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s
COMET carbon management tool. Soil samples from transects across each planting will be used
to quantify potential soil carbon sequestration and soil quality improvements. Assessments of
farm operator and resource professional interest, economic analyses, and field measurements will
be summarized regarding the potential for cellulosic bioenergy production in the study area.
Objectives: The overall project goal is to evaluate the potential of agroforestry plantings in
the Great Plains to provide bio-based feedstock, income, investment, and carbon
sequestration opportunities. In achieving this goal, the project’s specific objectives are: 1) To
identify farm operator and land management professional perceptions of agroforestry plantings
on marginal lands as a practice for woody biomass production for bioenergy and obstacles for
greater adoption of this practice, 2) develop a field-level financial appraisal to identify the
potential profitability of various “marginal land woody systems”, 3) utilize an available land
productivity interpretation tool to quantify the extent and distribution of marginal agricultural
lands in the study area, 4) test and refine current tree biomass estimation equations to improve
biomass estimates for trees in agroforestry plantings, and 5) measure soil organic carbon content
beneath existing agroforestry plantings and compare with model predictions to enable regional
estimates of potential carbon sequestration with agroforestry practices.
This project addresses the NCR-SARE sustainability goals in multiple ways.
Agroforestry plantings for bioenergy production have potential to diversify farmer and rancher
operations and improve their profitability and that of associated local businesses. Planting trees
on marginal farmland also has potential to improve environmental quality by sequestering
carbon, reducing soil erosion, and enhancing other ecosystem services (soil quality, wildlife
habitat, visual aesthetics, etc.). The development of cellulosic bioenergy feedstock production in
the Great Plains will allow this region to benefit economically from bioenergy investment in
ways that will enhance quality of life for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
Project Outcomes. The dramatic growth of the cellulosic biofuel industry that is necessary if
production goals are to be reached will require concerted and coordinated effort at regional
scales. Even if these goals are reduced or delayed, an energy- and climate-challenged future is
pushing the need for proactive, profitable, and responsible uses of land. Farmers and ranchers
can use findings of this project to more accurately assess the income and conservation benefits
and risks for investing in renovation (selective tree harvesting and replanting) of existing tree
plantings or in new agroforestry plantings. Conservation professionals will be able to make
recommendations based on local data that supports innovatively designed land uses for income
and conservation that are not solely dependent on government payments. Rural development and
industry leaders assessing investment opportunities for future energy needs will benefit from
regional analysis of perennial-based cellulosic feedstock potential.
There are multiple opportunities for direct farmer and rancher involvement in this project.
Farmers and ranchers will be targeted for inclusion in the participant pool of four focus group
sessions. Each attendee will receive $100 for their participation in the ½-day activity that will
identify land-use tradeoffs that influence the potential adoption of woody biomass systems, fine
tune field study plans, and inform the design of a region-wide survey. The survey will query
farmers and ranchers to characterize farm operator perceptions of “marginal land” and risk
associated with woody biomass as well as gauge potential farm operator adoption of woody
biomass systems. A second, online survey will characterize the views of land management
professionals and technical advisors regarding biomass management and the use of marginal
land, the environmental potential of perennial biomass systems, and institutional capacity for
supporting biomass based energy systems. A field-level financial appraisal will be developed to
identify the potential profitability of various “marginal land woody systems.” Local Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or state forestry/conservation personnel will assist in
identifying focus group participants and potential landowners for tree and soil sampling. We are
prepared to compensate each of these landowners up to $1000 each for site disturbance and/or
tree replacement. A webinar at the conclusion of the project will include landowners who hosted
the field sampling and participants from the focus groups and survey pool. The webinar will be
used to share and gain insights from study findings, outline policy implications, and frame the
development of outreach materials through an interactive webinar format.
Feedback on agroforestry adoption barriers and opportunities from the survey and focus
groups will be used to adapt the biomass, soil carbon, and economic components of the project to
address concerns or interests raised. The logic model shown below outlines the project
participants’ expectations for progress and products through and beyond the life of the project.
Feedback will be instrumental in prioritizing activities and developing effective outreach
materials that resource professionals want and can use. In addition to disseminating information
back to project stakeholders and participants, we will also work through participant web sites and
associated groups such as the MidAmerica Agroforestry Working Group, the National
Agroforestry Center, and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.