The Farm Security and

Rural Investment Act of

2002 (Farm Bill) has been

hailed as the single most significant commitment toward

conservation on private lands

in the Nation's history.

Landowners can benefit from

a portfolio of voluntary services. The conservation provisions can assist farmers and

ranchers in meeting environmental and production challenges on their land. This legislation modifies existing programs and creates some new

programs. The 2002 Farm Bill

provides many opportunities

orking Trees 

for the 2002 Farm Bill

W

Agroforestry

to enhance the long-term quality of our environment and the

conservation of our natural

resources.

Agroforestry has come a long

way in the United States in the

last 20 years and the 2002

Farm Bill provides an

increased level of recognition

of and support for agroforestry. A greater number of

conservation programs, both

public and private, now

include cost sharing, incentive

and maintenance payments,

and rental rates for agroforestry practices. The financial success of most agroforestry practices does not

depend on cost share programs. However, some agroforestry practices provide conservation benefits that extend

far beyond the property line.

Many Farm Bill programs provide economic incentives for

this kind of good stewardship.

Although there are more funding programs than described in

this flyer, those listed represent federal sources

with the greatest application to agroforestry. 

This legislation 

supports agroforestry

- planting the right

trees in the right place 

for the right reasons. 
Alley

Cropping is

the cultivation

of food, forage,

or specialty crops between rows of

high-value trees.

Riparian

Forest

Buffers are

strips of trees,

shrubs, and grass

planted between cropland or pasture

and surface water to protect water

quality, stabilize streambanks, and

reduce flooding.

Windbreaks are

linear plantings of

trees and shrubs

designed to enhance crop

production, protect people and livestock, and prevent soil erosion.

Silvopasture is the

planned combination

of trees, forage plants, and

livestock together as an integrated,

intensively-managed system.

Forest Farming is the

cultivation of edible, medicinal, or decorative specialty

crops beneath native or planted woodlands. It is not merely the gathering of

naturally-occuring plants from native

forests, also know as wildcrafting.

USDA programs that will work for you

Administered by Farm Service Agency

• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

provides technical and financial assistance to

eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, 

water, and related natural resource concerns 

on their lands.

• Continuous Conservation Reserve Program 

(CCRP) focuses on using buffers, filter 

strips, and windbreaks to protect soil, 

improve air and water quality and enhance 

fish and wildlife habitat.

• Conservation Reserve Enhancement 

Program (CREP) helps producers protect 

environmentally sensitive land, decrease 

erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safe

guard ground and surface water.

Administered by NRCS

• Conservation Security Program (CSP)

provides financial and technical assistance 

for the conservation, protection, and 

improvement of soil, water, and related 

resources on Tribal and private lands.

C: Cost Share, I: Incentive, M: Maintenance, PG: Producer Grant, R: Rental

Adapted from: L. Godsey. 2002. University of Missouri, Center for Agroforestry 5-2002 

Today, agroforestry practices are

being adopted in all regions of the

country. From alley cropping in the

central states to forest farming in the

east, and silvopasture in the south,

agroforestry practices are taking root.

Alley Riparian Wind- Silvo- Forest 

Cropping Buffers breaks pasture Farming

FSA

CRP C / M / R

CCRP C / I / M / R C / I / M / R

CREP C / I / M / R

NRCS

EQIP C / I C / I C / I C C

WRP C / R

CSP C / R C / R C / R C / R

FS

FLEP C C CCC

CSREES

SARE PG PG PG PG PG

USDA programs for agroforestry

• Environmental Quality Incentive Program 

(EQIP) assists farmers and ranchers who 

face serious threats to soil, water, and related

natural resources. EQIP promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as 

compatible national goals.

• Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) offers 

landowners opportunities to protect, restore, 

and enhance wetlands on their property.

Forest Service Program

• Forest Land Enhancement Program 

(FLEP) provides technical assistance and 

incentive payments to owners of private 

non-industrial forest land.

CSREES Program

• Sustainable Agriculture Research and 

Education (SARE) has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities. 

SARE funds projects and conducts 

research and outreach designed to 

improve agricultural systems.

First Edition 2004

NAC's Mission: The USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC) is a partnership of the USDA Forest Service, Research & Development

(Rocky Mountain Research Station) and State & Private Forestry and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. NAC’s purpose

is to accelerate the development and application of agroforestry technologies to attain more economically, environmentally, and socially

sustainable land-use systems. To accomplish its mission, NAC interacts with a national network of cooperators to conduct research, develop technologies and tools, establish demonstrations, and provide useful information to natural resource professionals.

Address: USDA National Agroforestry Center, East Campus - UNL, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0822. For a supply of brochures, contact

NAC on the web at www.unl.edu/nac.

USDA policy prohibits discrimination because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or handicapping condition. Any person who

believes he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should immediately contact the Secretary of Agriculture,

Washington, DC 20250.

Agroforestry 

practices