Inside Winter 2005

National

Agroforestry

Center

Agroforestry has deep roots in tropicaland sub-tropical agricultural systems. It

has only been in the last 25 years that people

in more temperate climates, like the United

States and Canada, have begun to consider the

benefits of adopting agroforestry practices and

systems.

In this issue we feature our Canadian

neighbors’ perspective on agroforestry technology and adoption. Like in the United

States, Canadian agroforestry has its beginnings with windbreaks. However, in Canada

the emphasis was as much in encouraging

farmers to stay on the land as it was for crop

and soil protection as demonstrated in the

Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration

(PFRA) headquartered in Saskatchewan (see

article on page 6). Interest in agroforestry has

emerged from the prairie provinces and has

spread from British Columbia (p. 3) to New

Brunswick (p. 6). For those of us

south of the 49th parallel that translates

to “from California to Maine.”

L’agroforesterie est bien ancrée dans lessystèmes agricoles tropicaux et subtropicaux. C’est depuis les 25 dernières années

seulement que les résidents des pays au climat

plus tempéré, comme les États-Unis et le

Canada, ont commencé à examiner les avantages de l’adoption de pratiques et de systèmes d’agroforesterie.

Dans ce numéro, nous présentons un

article sur le point de vue de nos voisins canadiens en ce qui a trait aux technologies agroforestières et è leur adoption. Comme aux

États-Unis, l’agroforesterie canadienne a

débuté avec les brise-vent. Toutefois, au

Canada, l’agroforesterie visait, à ses débuts,

autant à inciter les producteurs à poursuivre

leurs activités qu’à protéger les cultures et les

sols comme l’a démontré l’Administration du

rétablissement agricole des Prairies (ARAP)

dont l’administration centrale est en

Saskatchewan (voir l’article de la page 6).

L’intérèt pour l’agroforesterie est apparu dans

les Provinces des Prairies et s’est étendu de la

Colombie-Britannique (p. 3) au NouveauBrunswick (p. 6). Pour ceux d’entre nous qui

habitent au sud du 49e parallèle, cela se traduit

par « de la Californie au Maine ».

Inside 

2 CANVIS: 

COMING TO A PC NEAR YOU

ACROSS CANADA,

AGROFORESTRY IS FAR

FROM PROVINCIAL 3-7

In English

En français
The National Agroforestry Center has

just released an exciting new tool

called the CanVis Visual Simulation

Kit. This two CD collection contains

CanVis, a photo-editing software program, and the Visual Simulation Guide,

a how-to manual for creating visual

simulations of proposed conservation

design and management scenarios.

Photo-realistic simulations communicate ideas in ways that line drawings

and words cannot, making this technology appropriate for any activity, program, or project where visual media

would enhance communication.

Realignment of NAC

NAC Director’s Corner

A commentary on the status of agroforestry by NAC Director, Dr. Greg Ruark

2 Inside Agroforestry |Winter 2005

At the beginning of 2005, the National Agroforestry Center(NAC) was realigned within the Forest Service to better

position it to garner national support. The administrative oversight of NAC's Forest Service research and technology programs has been shifted from the Rocky Mountain Research

Station in Ft. Collins, CO to its new home at the Southern

Research Station in Asheville, NC.

While I remain NAC's National Program Manager, I am

now located in Huntsville, AL on the campus of Alabama

A&M University (AAMU). Plans are for all other Forest

Service personnel in Lincoln, Nebraska to be retained there,

but to report to me in Huntsville. The Lincoln location will

continue its research efforts on upland and riparian forest

buffers for water quality and will remain NAC's clearinghouse

for producing and distributing technology on a broad array for

agroforestry practices.

I am optimistic that this new administrative alignment can

help further agroforestry by providing an expanded national

platform. The relocation of NAC's headquarters will allow it

to partner with universities, state and local agencies, and other

interested groups to build on the growing agroforestry

momentum in the Southeast. We will also continue to expand

our efforts with AAMU and other historically black universities through the newly formed "1890 Agroforestry

Consortium". Efforts will be made to increase NAC's funding

and staffing at both the Lincoln and Huntsville locations over

time. Meanwhile, NAC is in the process of reconfiguring its

continuing partnership with the Natural Resources

Conservation Service (NRCS), a partner in NAC since 1995,

to determine how best to insure program delivery and effectiveness nationally. 

I am looking forward to continuing to work together

with our many partners to advance the science and

practice of agroforestry.

NAC’s new CanVis software can help natural

resource professionals visualize their design

ideas before spending time, money, and

energy on a project. For those new to photoediting software, the included Visual

Simulation Guide puts the “can” in CanVis.

CanVis now available!

One of the main benefits of CanVis is

the collection of object libraries which

contain images of plant materials, agricultural elements, people, and wildlife

that can quickly be added into a digital

photo or image.

The Visual Simulation Guide is a

multi-media CD reference manual on

how to create simulations, and provides

guidance on how to plan a simulation

project, acquire images, edit an image,

and accurately locate and size objects

in an image. Several natural resource

planning projects are provided as

working examples. 

For more information, and to order

a copy of the kit, log onto

www.unl.edu/nac/simulation.

Plant mature trees with a

click of your mouse.
Winter 2005 |Inside Agroforestry 3

Agroforestry a

part of Canada’s

green cover

The Prairie Shelterbelt

Program promotes the 

environmental and economic

benefits of agroforestry

through research, technology

transfer, and the provision of

tree and shrub seedlings to

prairie farmers.

Laura Poppy

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Indian Head, Saskatchewan

If you have an interest in agroforestry and are travelling across

Canada, you must visit Indian Head,

Saskatchewan. It is at this small, prairie

town that Agriculture and Agri-Food

Canada (AAFC) headquarters its

Agroforestry Division.

Agroforestry has been designated as a beneficial management practice and is promoted

and supported by AAFC

through federal initiatives

such as the Prairie Shelterbelt

Program, Greencover

Canada and the National

Farm Stewardship Program. 

Agroforestry is promoted

on a national scale through Greencover

Canada, a program designed to promote

sustainable land use and to expand the

land base covered by perennial forages

and trees.

The Shelterbelt Research component

of Greencover Canada is administered

by AAFC’s Agroforestry Research Unit,

and concentrates on 

developing agroforestry science, 

technology and genetic materials 

for the improvement of the agroecosystem. Research focuses on

increasing the understanding of the

functions and processes of agroforestry

practices (with emphasis on shelterbelts

and riparian buffers). Research tackles

critical knowledge gaps related to

tree health, growth and function;

agroforestry design and the environmental and economic effects of

agroforestry in agro-ecosystems.

The Prairie Shelterbelt

Program, a long-standing program

administered by the Agroforestry

Division, provides hardy tree and

shrub seedlings that are suitable for

establishing shelterbelts in a harsh prairie

climate. It is available to agricultural

landowners across western Canada.

The recently introduced National

Farm Stewardship Program works in

conjunction with each of the provincial

governments to encourage the adoption 

of various beneficial management 

practices, including farm and 

field shelterbelts, livestock and 

riparian buffers and tree planting projects to increase wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

AAFC’s Agroforestry Division objectives include utilization of trees for the

protection of soil and water resources,

improvements in air quality, enhanced

wildlife habitat and biodiversity,

increased economic returns to farmers

and a better quality of life for rural residents. The Agroforestry Division applies

an integrated approach to these sustainability issues by conducting and facilitating environmentally and economically

significant research; developing and

delivering technology transfer tools,

products and services; and providing tree

and shrub seedlings for the adoption and

integration of agroforestry practices on

the agricultural landscape.

For more information, visit the

AAFC Agroforestry Division

website at ww.agr.ca/pfra/

shelterbelt.htm. 

Indian 

Head
4 Inside Agroforestry |Winter 2005

Agroforestry in British Columbia

In British Columbia, interest in agroforestry as viable production systems, and awareness as an emerging industry, stems

from a series of loosely connected events:

• Escalating interest in alternate crops and cropping 

strategies by producers and consumers.

• A high degree of interest in promoting good stewardship 

by all sectors in support of production systems. 

• The “raised on the radar” effect of workshops conducted 

around the province (BCMAFF and others) that provided 

an overview of the various practices and potential 

opportunities. 

• Continuing exposure via theoretical and hands-on courses 

(in-class, continuing education, web-based, and workshops) 

offered by Universities and 

Colleges within the province. 

To capitalize on the emerging

opportunities an Agroforestry

Industry Development Initiative was

formed by industry and government

representatives to foster agroforestry

in British Columbia. In 2002, a

survey of producers was conducted

as the first step in formalized industry development. Awareness

of, and interest in, the potentials were high. However, while

stewardship and the economic reasons for adopting agroforestry

systems into current production practices “sound great”, adoption came down to four key areas:

1. Show me

“It sounds like agroforestry might be a good idea, but where

do I see it?” This type of question forms a central driver of the

BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative. Prior to

embarking on individual project development the Agroforestry

Industry put together a strategic plan in 2003 based on the

survey results. The cornerstone of the strategic plan is development of operational producer demonstration sites around

the province. 

2. Information and extension

Surveyed producers indicated a range of information needs,

Lisa Zabek

British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

Abbotsford, British Columbia

From awareness to 

industry development

including crop production methods, costs and returns of production, and “anything to do with marketing.” The network of

demonstration sites will form the basis for tours and workshops,

sources of information for technology transfer materials, and ultimately help create “on-the-farm” agroforestry-producer experts. 

3. Producer / buyer / consumer disconnect

“We direct market a lot of our products via the web, farm markets, etc. We do well, but to move to the next level we need a

means for people to find us when they don't know they are

looking for us.” Producers identified a strong need for developing the means to facilitate the exchange of products and information, thereby increasing awareness and market access. 

4. Value-added

Quality is the number one customer concern. Knowledge of

farm stewardship is viewed as a part of that quality.

The Agroforestry Initiative is

working to address these four key

areas by focusing activities for the

first two years on development of

demonstration sites and technology

transfer activities. The Initiative is a

cost-share program requiring

matching industry support. So far,

two demonstrations have been approved with several more

under review:

• “Tapping Bigleaf Maple” located on Vancouver Island.. 

• “Cedars, Bigleaf Maple, and High-value Hardwoods” 

located in the Fraser Valley. 

The Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative is

administered by the Federation of British Columbia Woodlot

Associations. For more information about the Initiative and

projects please visit www.woodlot.bc.ca and follow the agroforestry link. Funding for the Agroforestry Industry

Development Initiative is provided through the Agri-Food

Futures Fund of the Investment Agriculture Foundation of

British Columbia. The Investment Agriculture Foundation

receives this funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food

Canada and the British Columbia Ministry of

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

While stewardship and the 

economic reasons for adopting 

agroforestry systems “sound

great”, adoption came down to

four key areas.
Winter 2005 |Inside Agroforestry 5

The Alberta Cows and Fish partners areworking together with farm and ranch

families to foster a better understanding of

how improvements in grazing management

on riparian areas can enhance landscape

health and productivity, for the benefit of

producers and others who use and value

riparian areas. Cows and Fish promotes the

improvement of riparian areas, their ecological processes and functions, through a collaborative partnership and voluntary, proactive

community-based action that uses education

and awareness about management options for

livestock producers and their communities.

The Alberta Cows and Fish program was

established in 1992 through a partnership

between the Alberta Beef Producers; Trout

Unlimited Canada; the Canadian Cattlemen's

Association; Alberta Sustainable Resource

Development; Alberta Environment; Alberta

Agriculture, Food and Rural Development;

Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration;

Fisheries and Oceans Canada; and Alberta

Conservation Association. Most important to

Program objectives

• Promote an understanding of riparian 

health and function 

• Communicate the benefits of good riparian 

management 

• Promote proactive voluntary solutions to 

riparian area conflicts 

• Demonstrate value of cooperative, interdisciplinary and community efforts in 

resolving resource conflicts 

• Improve the overall productivity and health

of Alberta's landscapes and communities

Atlantic Canada has always relied on

natural resources to insure its survival and

economic development. However, for

many years the rural population has been

declining. Moreover, emerging environmental issues, like water quality, soil conservation, biodiversity, and climate change,

have brought new challenges. Increasing

expenses, lower product prices, and the

need to develop innovative and sustainable

land management techniques have raised

interest in agroforestry. 

Indeed, agroforestry practices are perceived as economically, socially, and environmentally beneficial, all key aspects of

the sustainable development Atlantic

Canada is pursuing. But it is difficult to

know where to begin, as work is needed at

various levels. 

Agroforestry: An

emerging field in

Atlantic Canada

Caroline Pagé

Université de Moncton - 

Edmundston Campus 

Edmundston, New Brunswick

Agroforestry enterprises diversify the landscape and the rural economy.

Although a lot has been done in temperate agroforestry research and development in North America, very few trials and

research initiatives have been conducted in

Atlantic Canada. 

Following are a few of the current

research projects in the region, some of

which are Federally funded by Agriculture

and Agri-Food Canada:

• The effectiveness of riparian forest 

buffer systems to filter pollutants in 

agricultural runoff and sequester 

nutrients (conducted by Ken Webb, 

AAFC Crops and Livestock Research 

Centre, Truro, Nova Scotia) 

• The Effect of Agroforestry Buffers on

Biodiversity in Lowbush Blueberry 

Agro-Ecosystem (conducted by Steve 

Javorek, Atlantic Food and

Horticulture Research Centre, 

Kentville, Nova Scotia). 

Other initiatives include:

• The potential of afforestation of 

cutover peatlands in New Brunswick 

for carbon sequestration and 

reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

(developed by the Université de 

Moncton - Peat Research and 

Development Center Inc.)

• The use of Alley Cropping in Potato 

production (AAFC Crops and 

Livestock Research Centre, 

Charlottetown, Prince Edwards 

Island).

Another emerging research area involves

harvesting of a wide range of non-timber

see ATLANTIC CANADA on page seven

see COWS AND FISH on page seven

Cows and Fish
6 Inside Agroforestry |Winter 2005

Commodity

Farm woodlots

Christmas trees

Nuts

Maple products

Maple orchards

Forest ginseng

Farm windbreaks and 

building shelters

Timberbelts (sawlogs 

from fencerows)

Hardwood plantations

Intercropping (tree nut 

and tree fruit orchards)

Significance of industry

1,450,000 acres / 587.045 ha

30,000 acres / 12141 ha 

2000 acres / 810 ha 

1.3 million taps, 2600 farms 

Greater than 50 

1000 - 2000 acres / 404 - 808 ha 

8749 windbreaks, 

67,520 shelterbelts

25 acres (new idea) 

Not documented

Area not documented. Only 

practiced in new non-bearing 

orchards.

Annual value ($)

$19.7 million (Agricultural Census, 1996), plus $60 million 

in-kind use of forest products on farms (e.g. fuel wood, posts,

building materials, foods, decoratives, hunting)

$8.3 million (Statistics Canada, Agriculture Division 2001) 

$200,000 (nut & nursery tree sales) 

$15 million value, plus tourism and spin-off values to local 

economies (Agricultural Census, 2001) 

Little tapping yet, demonstration value 

Most acreage not yet mature. Value: $250 to $500 / dried pound.

- 8 to15% crop yield increase on protected land.

- 10 to15% heating and cooling cost savings. 

- Difficult to measure value of soil conserved. 

N/A

Combines technology in orchard horticulture, forestry and 

landscape nursery. 

Traditional orchard practice, combines orchard agriculture with

other agricultural crop production practices. 

Table by Dave Chapeski, Agroforestry Specialist; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (OMAF),Kemptville, Ontario. http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/facts/info_statistics.htm

Ontario agroforestry statistics

Tree-based intercropping in 

southern Ontario

An estimated 57 million hectares (143 million acres) of marginal or degraded land is

considered to be available for agroforestry

establishment in Canada. Even so, the slow

adoption of intercropping (alley cropping)

systems in the area may be partially due to

unfavorable tax systems and limited awareness of the environmental and social benefits

and intricacies of adopting and practicing

agroforestry. During the past 20 years, the

University of Guelph, Ontario has conducted

research to bridge these knowledge gaps that

are essential for promoting and extending the

Andrew M. Gordon, Ph.D., R.P.F. and

Naresh Thevathasan, Ph.D., P. Ag.

University of Guelph 

Department of Environmental Biology

Guelph, Ontario

practice of agroforestry. The University has

focused on tree-based intercropping systems. 

Results show that yields of soybeans and

wheat intercropped with trees, as well as

growth of trees, did not differ from those in

corresponding sole-stand (conventional) systems of crops and trees. More specific results

include:

• Increased soil organic carbon content 

(absolute increase of one percent over 

eight years)

• Increased bird and insect diversity (ten 

times more bird diversity in the intercropped area). 

• Increased abundance and distribution of

earth worms. This was higher 

closer to tree rows indicating improved 

soil health. 

Research & development at the University of Guelph

Studying the interactions of trees and crops at

the University of Guelph research site supports

the adoption of intercropping agroforestry.

continued on next page
Whether we're talking about planting

a short rotation crop under a forested

canopy, integrating livestock into a

conifer plantation, installing shelterbelts

around fields, designing a riparian

buffer zone, or harvesting non timber

forest products (NTFP), we are talking

about potential agroforestry practices

for Eastern Canada that are, for the

most part, unknown. This emerging

field, however, will soon become more

common and the Forestry of Faculty of

the Université de Moncton -

Edmundston Campus (UMCE) plans on

being a leader in the development of

these new practices.

In order to develop and promote this

emerging science, a bachelor's degree

program in agroforestry was initiated in

September 2004. The five-year program

is offered jointly by the Faculty of

Forestry of the Université de Moncton -

Winter 2005 |Inside Agroforestry 7

Université de Montcon offers 

Agroforestry Bachelor’s Degree

forest products (NTFP). The largest NTFP

industry in New Brunswick is crafting

Christmas wreaths using balsam fir branch

tips. Another fast growing NTFP industry

is the harvest of ground hemlock (Taxus

canadensis) for pharmaceutical use. The

Canadian Forest Service and the Faculty of

Forestry of the Université de Moncton

have been working to establish sustainable

harvesting guidelines. Research trials on

other products, such as the curled shoots or

"fiddleheads" of Ostrich Ferns and various

types of mushrooms are also being done. 

Then, there is the adoption side of it! In

order to promote and coordinate the development and adoption of agroforestry practices, a pilot project has been undertaken by

the Fédération des Agriculteurs et

Agricultrices Francophones du NouveauBrunswick (Francophone Agricultural

Producers Association) in partnership with

the Faculty of Forestry of the Université de

Moncton - Campus of Edmundston.

Agroforestry can diversify the rural

Edmundston Campus (UMCE) and the

Center of Excellence in Agricultural and

Biotechnological Sciences (CESAB) of

the New Brunswick Community College.

Graduates of this program will be able

to consult, analyze, conceptualize, and

utilize agroforestry approaches in an

agricultural or forestry setting.

Interesting fact: it is the first of its kind

in America!

Moreover, this new program should

raise the interest for new agroforestry

research and development initiatives in

Atlantic Canada, and therefore lead to

increased landowner adoption of agroforestry. 

For more information, please contact

the Faculté de foresterie at 1-888-736-

8623 or by e-mail at: fdef@umce.ca,

www.umce.ca/foresterie.

Sustainable agricultural operations often

integrate the management of multiple crops

to take advantage of crop and livestock

interactions.

Atlantic Canada

continued from page five

Incorporating trees into traditional cropping

systems increases soil carbon, bird and

insect diversity, and earthworm populations, while improving N-cycling.

• The carbon sequestration potential in 

hybrid-poplar-based intercropping 

systems was four times more than that 

reported for conventional agricultural 

fields in the region. 

• Reduced fertilizer use and more 

efficient N-cycling could also lead to the 

reduction of nitrous oxide emissions 

from agricultural fields.

Along with this rich history of agroforestry research, the University of Guelph

was instrumental in organizing and hosting

the 1st North American Agroforestry

Conference in 1989. It is easy to see that the

University of Guelph is in the forefront of

agroforestry in eastern Canada. 

economy of the region and address an

important seasonal employment issue. This

pilot project is located in the North West

New Brunswick region and will result in a

Regional Action Plan (in March 2005) to

develop and promote agroforestry. 

With the challenges for the agricultural

industry in Atlantic Canada, interest and

support of agroforestry will continue to grow in the coming years.

Cows and Fish

continued from page four

the initial success of the partnership was the

cooperation of a number of southern Alberta

ranchers that applied riparian grazing strategies to restore riparian conditions, or shared

existing grazing practices that have been effective in maintaining riparian health. Since then,

producers across the prairies have been

involved with Cows and Fish, sharing their

experiences and working with their communities on riparian health. 

What if you don't have any cows or fish?

Cows and Fish isn't just about cattle producers and fish; it is a program to promote

the understanding and appreciation of

riparian areas for landowners, resource managers and the general public. Whether we are

urban or rural, ranchers, farmers, anglers, or

downstream water drinkers, we are all a part

of a watershed and, therefore, all linked by

riparian areas.

For more information on Cows and Fish,

visit www.cowsandfish.org.
National Agroforestry Center

East Campus-UNL

Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0822

PRSRT STD

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

USDA — FS

PERMIT NO G-40

March 21-22, 2005

“Forests Then & Now: Historical 

Perspectives and Current Issues.”

Moscow, Idaho. Contact: Sara 

McCullough, clwtr@moscow.com,

www.clearwaterrcd.org.

March 30 - April 1, 2005 

Small Log Conference: “Creating Capacity

to Compete.” Coeur d'Alene Resort, Idaho.

Contact: Jan Raulin, tenaj@telus.net, 

www.forestnet.com/slc/index.htm.

April 2, 2005 

Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference 

Keokuk, Iowa. Contact: Paul Wray, 515-

294-1168, phw@iastate.edu.

April 9, 2005

Northeast Wisconsin Private Woodland 

Owners Conference on Non-Timber Forest 

Products: “A Fortune in the Forest.” 

Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Contact: Bill 

Klase, 715-365-2658,

william.klase@ces.uwex.edu.

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use, $300

Address Correction Requested

Winter 2005 | Agroforestry Inside

Upcoming Events

Inside Agroforestry is published quarterly by the 

USDA National Agroforestry Center. 

Phone: 402-437-5178; Fax: 402-437-5712.

• Greg Ruark

NAC Director (256-372-4540)

• Michele Schoeneberger

FS Research Lead (ext. 21)

• Rich Straight

FS Lead Agroforester (ext. 24)

• Kimberly Stuhr

Technology Transfer Specialist/

Inside Agroforestry Editor (ext. 13)

• Ryan Dee

Technology Transfer Assistant (ext. 14)

www.unl.edu/nac

The USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC) is a partnership of the Forest Service

(Research & Development and State and Private Forestry) and the Natural Resources

Conservation Service. It is administered by the Forest Service Southern Research Station and

its Program Manager and Headquarters are located in Huntsville, AL on the campus of

Alabama A&M University, while it's research, clearinghouse, and technology development

staff are concentrated in Lincoln, NE at the University of Nebraska. 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 partners and cooperators to conduct research,

develop technologies and tools, establish demonstrations, and provide useful information to

natural resource professionals.

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.

Opinions expressed in Inside Agroforestry are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the policy of the USDA Forest

Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Mission

Natural Resources 

Conservation Service

May 17-18, 2005

“Restoring Greenspace: Ecological Reuse 

of Contaminated Properties in EPA 

Region 6.” New Orleans, Louisiana. 

www.wildlifehc.org/events/restoringgreen

space.cfm, greenspace@wildlifehc.org.

June 12-15, 2005 

Ninth North American Agroforestry 

Conference: “Moving Agroforestry into the

Mainstream.” Rochester, Minneosta. 

http://cinram.umn.edu/afta2005/