Conventional or Agroforestry Farming?

by Richard Olson, Research Associate, Center for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, UNL, Lincoln, Nebraska

Diversified farming systems emphasiz-
ing high-value crops and direct marketing
offer a third alternative to the choice
between getting bigger or getting out that
faces many Midwestern farmers. The
incorporation of agroforestry practices is
a promising approach for increasing agro-
nomic and economic diversity. However,
as with any innovative practice, farmers
want to see evidence that success is likely
before they will accept the risk of adopt-
ing a new strategy.

A successful demonstration by a neigh-
bor is the best evidence, but in the
absence of nearby examples or any exam-
ple at all, farm models offer a risk-free
method of conducting a preliminary
assessment of alternative systems.
Throughout 1998, I evaluated five alterna-
tive farming systems in eastern Nebraska
using economic and environmental mod-
els. Characteristics of each system includ-
ing size, amount of land rented, and
equipment were defined based on the
results of a survey of 381 Nebraska farms
conducted by the University of Nebraska
Department of Agricultural Economics.
Crop rotations, inputs, and field operation
schedules were derived from a variety of
other sources. Economic performance was
assessed for the period 1985 through 1994

using average annual yields for Saunders
County, Nebraska and historic market
year prices for eastern Nebraska deflated
to constant 1996 dollars. Highlights from
the results for two of the systems, a con-
ventional corn/soybean farm and a small-
er diversified farm including agroforestry
components, are presented in Table 1.

Due to the greater diversity of crops,
the seasonal distribution of labor require-
ments was more even for the agroforestry
farm than for the conventional farm.
Increased yields of crops sheltered by
windbreaks more than compensated for
land removed from production for wind-
breaks.

The results of this modeling exercise
suggest that a smaller diversified farm
that includes agroforestry practices can
be competitive with larger conventional
farms as measured by both economic and
environmental indicators. Widespread
adoption of such systems could help to
slow the trend toward fewer and larger
farms, and the associated decline of rural
communities in the Midwest. For more
information contact Richard at 402-472-
0917 or csas00S@unlvm.unl.edu. D>

Based on previous research “Procedures for

Evaluating Alternative Farming Systems: A Case Study
for Eastern Nebraska." by Richard Olson

Table 1: Comparison of Selected Structural Characteristics.

Characteristic Conventional Farm Agroforestry Farm

Size (acres) 650 425

Percent of land rented 55 40

Crops (acres) Corn (325), soybean (325) Com (83), Soybean (151),

Sorghum (83), Alfalfa (60)
Christmas tree (9), American
Hazel* (16), Windbreaks (23)

*Nuts sold for seed.

Table 2: Comparison of Selected Performance Characteristics.

Characteristic Conventional Farm Agroforestry Farm
Net annual income $28,905 $33,453
1985-1994

Average annual returns} $109/Acre $137/Acre

to land ($/Acre)

Total labor for field 994 Hours 2485 Hours
operations and

preparation (hours)

Erosion (tons/acre) 5 Tons/Acre 3.5 Tons/Acre
Energy intensity * 6.5 Mega-calories 4.5 Mega-calories

energy use efficiency of the system.

*Mega-calories of cultural (non-solar) energy input per dollar of gross income ~- a measure of the

Sixth Annual
Agroforestry
Conference
in 1999

Sustainable Land-Use
Management
for the 21st Century

The sixth conference
on agroforestry
in North America
will be held June 12-16, 1999
at the Arlington Resort Hotel
in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Anyone involved in research, technol-
ogy development, or implementation
of agroforestry practices in North
America or other temperate regions is
invited to submit titles for proposed
presentations to conference organiz-
ers. Submissions should include title,
agroforestry category (alley cropping,
forest farming, riparian zones, sil-
vopasture, windbreaks, or general)
and subject area (management, biolo-
gy, economics, environmental, soci-
etal, policy, modeling or general).

For more information about the
conference program, contact:

Dr. Catalino Blanche

Dale Bumpers Small Farms
Research Center

6883 South State Hwy 23
Booneville, Arkansas 72927-9214.
E-mail: cblanche@yell.com

Co-Hosts of Conference

* Dale Bumpers Small Farms
Research Center

+ Hill Farm Research Station.

Inside Agroforestry



—Agroforestry—
A
Plane

Example
by Greg Ruark

When I fly I still ask for a window seat. I like looking down at the
landscape and studying its patterns, but some of what I see
troubles me.

I see lakes and rivers intruded by large sediment plumes.
I see bodies of water choked with vegetation.
I see whole vistas that are cropped with no trees in sight.
I see no place for birds to perch or wildlife to dwell.

I ask myself why do I see these things. I don't understand how the

land got so out of hand.

We know what causes soil erosion and about its detrimental effects.
We know what nutrient and pesticide loading does to aquatic systems.
We know from the “dust bowl” era the value of windbreaks.

We know the value of trees for wildlife.

Then I wonder what could be. Looking down I try to image a
different view.

Where could trees be located to protect soil and water resources?
Where could trees provide communities shelter from harsh climates?
Where could trees add recreation opportunities and aesthetic beauty?
Where could trees provide habitat for wildlife?

The next time you fly get a window seat. The benefits of agroforestry
are plane to see.

Forest Farming
Conference Held

by Clover Shelton, Technology Transfer Assistant,
NAC, Lincoln, Nebraska

Minneapolis, Minnesota was the set-
ting for the North American Conference
on Enterprise Development Through
Agroforestry: Farming the Agroforest for
Specialty Products, held October 4-7.
There were 166 participants representing
all aspects of the special forest products
industries (large and small company rep-
resentatives and entrepreneurs, agency
folks, university researchers, non-profit
organizations, Native American tribes,
landowners, and producers.)

According to Scott Josiah from the
Center for Integrated Natural Resources
and Agricultural Management (CIN-
RAM) at the University of Minnesota and
Planning Committee Chair, the confer-
ence was successful and beneficial.

“T think (and I believe most of those
attending also thought) that it was a great
success. While we would have liked to
see more people attend, we did attract
those from around North America that are
the most involved in specialty forest
products. Thus, this turned out to be a
superb opportunity for networking, mak-
ing new contacts, and learning of new and
sustainable land use approaches and
income opportunities.”

Following the conference, some regis-
trants attended a field tour.

“The field tours went very well and
opened all of our eyes to both the oppor-
tunities and the complexities of running a
business based on specialty forest prod-
ucts,” Josiah said. “I think the highlight
for many was a goldenseal and ginseng
planting under mature oak hickory forest,
as it really was a true representation of
what forest farming is.”

Proceedings will include all presenta-
tions, and are currently under develop-
ment. Conference registrants will receive
a free copy. Others interested in purchas-
ing a copy can contact Erik Streed at
CINRAM 612-624-4299, e-mail C/N-
RAM@/orestry.umn.edu or write to CIN-
RAM, University of Minnesota, 1530
Cleveland Ave. N., 115 Green Hall, St.
Paul, MN 55108-1027. Qa»

10 Inside Agroforestry


Spotlight On Success F@ANO iE)

Agroforestry Can Help Control Weeds, Attract Wildlife and

oe

2
= 7 SEIS oe
Here, native grasses and trees are adjacent to a conventional corn
field. This riparian corridor helps to catch sediment that runs off of
the field into the irrigation canal.

Sa og

Hedgerow Farms, located near Davis, California in the south-
ern Sacramento Valley, is surrounded by row crop farms and
orchards. Hedgerow Farms is a 600-acre row crop and grass seed
production facility.

For the past 18 years, John Anderson, his wife Marsha and
daughters Jennifer and Anne, owners and managers of Hedgerow
Farms, have developed and demonstrated the use of on-farm veg-
etation practices that completely reverse the concept of “clean
farming,” a common practice that farmers use to keep non-
farmed areas devoid of vegetation through a costly and labor-
intensive combination of tillage and herbicides. These intensive
farming practices have essentially eliminated wildlife habitat and
ecosystem functions on the majority of farmland in the area. It
has also increased the severity of soil erosion, sediment deposi-
tion, and flooding. It also locks farmers into a never-ending cycle
of seasonal weed abatement.

Rather than eliminating vegetation, the Andersons have
restored and cultivated native California vegetation on roadsides,
irrigation canals, drainage ditches, field borders, and along a nat-
ural riparian corridor. Every non-farmed area is a complex mix-
ture of native plants, including perennial grasses, sedges, rushes,
forbs, shrubs, vines, and trees, that competitively suppress inva-
sive weeds while at the same time provide a biologically diverse
community of plants and animals.

Today, Hedgerow Farms supports multiple, interconnected
corridors that have eliminated erosion, reduced the need for
tillage and herbicides, and may even be assimilating agricultural
nutrient run-off. The benefits to wildlife are tremendous. Over
110 species of birds have been recorded on the property. Game
species are now regularly harvested, including dove, pheasant,
quail, turkey, wood ducks, and mallards. Reptile and amphibian
populations have made dramatic recoveries. And, a myriad of

Beneficial Insects by Kim Isaacson, Technology Transfer Specialist, NAC, Lincoln, Nebraska

One of Anderson's irrigation canals is vegetated with native grass-
es, sedges, and rushes. This riparian corridor of shrubs and trees
border a conventional agricultural field on the left.

beneficial insects and spiders inhabit the diverse vegetation com-
plexes.

This boom to wildlife has not compromised farm productivity.
Adjacent fields of corn, wheat, sunflowers, safflower, alfalfa,
and tomatoes have not been negatively impacted and may even
benefit from certain insects and abundant predators associated
with the restored habitat.

John Anderson explains, “The visual image of ‘clean farming’
for the future should be borders of perennial grasslands rather
than borders of bare dirt. Clean should mean ‘weed-free’ and not
“vegetation-free.’ Quality of the environment and quality of life
would be significantly enhanced, especially for those of us that
live and work in the agricultural landscape.”

The Andersons have worked with numerous local agencies
including the Yolo County Public Works Agency and the County
Flood Control and Water Conservation District, California Water
Resources Control Board, University of California-Davis, and
University of California Cooperative Extension. They have also
relied on several cost-share programs including USDA ACP
funds, US Fish and Wildlife “Partners for Wildlife” Program,
and EPA 319 Funds. The farm hosts an average of two tours
each month. Hedgerow Farms success has heightened local
awareness and interest in conservation practices on farmland. >

Working Trees for Livestock Display
Has Arrived

Contact Clover Shelton for more information,
or to reserve a display, at 402-437-5178 Ext. 14.

Inside Agroforestry 7



(Appalachia from page 1)

ment and rural community-based devel-
opment in Appalachia. Located in the
Potomac Highlands region of West
Virginia, Lightstone's 562-acre certified
organic farm provides a terrific living
laboratory for demonstrating the
Foundation's programs in organic and
sustainable agriculture, watershed protec-
tion, wetlands restoration, and sustainable
forest management. Although four to
five times larger than a typical
Appalachian farm, the Lightstone farm in
many ways is representative of farms in
Appalachia, as it is made up of a mosaic
of woodland (approximately 50 percent

of total acreage), prime hayfields, and
upland pasture in various stages of woody
encroachment. Its topography ranges
from gently rolling to rugged.

The Lightstone staff believe agro-
forestry can contribute to the economic
health and sustainability of farms in
Appalachia, and intend to demonstrate
that belief by installing several agro-
forestry practices on their farm. A year
ago they seeded a small area of woodland
with ginseng and goldenseal to show visi-
tors the possibilities for non-timber
sources of income from woodlands.
Given the success of that planting, they
plan to expand their forest farming ven-
ture and integrate it into their farm's sus-
tainable forest management plan. They
are currently recruiting a horse logger to
implement the plan and further develop
their forestry programs.

Now they are ready to add agro-
forestry to the pastured areas of the farm
as well. “We don't need to demonstrate
practices that already work well in the
region,” says Lightstone Executive
Director Tony Smith. “There isn't much
we can teach farmers here about growing
hay or raising cattle and sheep, and we
wouldn't want to try.” But demonstrating
the potential of small-scale, value-added
enterprises that are compatible with exist-
ing production systems is more up their
alley. After talking with scientists at the
USDA, ARS, Appalachian Farming
Systems Research Center, plans are
underway for a cooperative project to
establish two distinctly different agro-
forestry plantings on the Lightstone farm.

One planting will involve adding
widely-spaced black walnut and paw paw

The landscape on Appalachia’s Lightstone Farm is made up of a mosaic of woodlands,
prime hayfields, and upland pasture in various stages of woody encroahment. The
Lightstone staff believe that incorporating agroforestry practices onto the landscape can
help contribute fo the economic health and sustainability of the area’s farms.

trees to a highly productive hay field, to
develop a system that produces high-value
fruit and nut crops in addition to hay. The
other planting will involve adding black
locust, a nitrogen-fixing tree, to a margin-
al hillside pasture to produce fence posts
while improving the soil and botanical
composition of the site. The biggest chal-
lenge in establishing both of these planti-
ngs will be to work within the constraints
of maintaining organic certification for the
farm, meaning no herbicide can be used to
suppress competing vegetation around the
trees. Another challenge will be to mini-
mize damage from browsing deer, as
white-tail populations are quite high in the
region. A combination of mechanical con-
trol (weed-whipping down to bare soil

prior to planting), vegetation suppression
mats, and tree shelters will be tested for
effectiveness in meeting these challenges.
A key objective of the project is to devel-
op techniques that are successful for tree
establishment in these systems but mini-
mize labor and cost inputs.

Given the numerous students, interns,
and workshop participants that visit the
Lightstone farm each year, the projects
already underway and those currently
being planned should have high visibility
and be effective in demonstrating the
contributions that agroforestry can make
to the success of small farms in
Appalachia. This in tum should lead to
wider adoption of agroforestry practices
in the region. QD

801-797-2257.

NAC Partnership Highlight — NAC has joined in a partnership with the
USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program to
provide a special opportunity for the SARE Farmer Grant Program in fiscal
year 1999. The four SARE regional offices will solicit and fund proposals for
agroforestry demonstration projects. Projects may be either initiated and
managed by a producer or can be coordinated by a technical professional, if
carried out on a farm with significant farmer involvement. Farmers, ranchers,
or tribes may propose projects that either install established agroforestry
practices or explore novel ways of integrating trees and shrubs into agricul-
tural systems. Contact regional SARE offices for details: North Central: 402-
472-0265; Northeast: 802-656-0471; Southern: 770-412-4787; and Western:

6 Inside Agroforestry



(Sustaining from page 3)

agriculture and forestry must be disman-
tled. Approximately 80 percent of our
nation’s land resource is devoted to either
agriculture or forestry. A high percentage
of our watersheds are an interwoven
mosaic of forests and agriculture. Yet, we
(agencies/universities/resource special-
ists) have traditionally insisted on
addressing their economic and environ-
mental concerns separately. If we do not

learn to treat them together, we will miss
some wonderful opportunities to address
common resource concerns.

Achieving sustainable development
will take time and a concerted effort.
Many will remember when reduced
tillage was first introduced as a new prac-
tice to improve both economic and con-
servation efforts on farms. It took many
years to be accepted and is still in differ-

ent stages of adoption. We must recog-
nize that increasing the adoption of agro-
forestry technologies will likely take the
same level of perseverance, but that will
be time and effort well spent if it leads to
amore sustainable rural America. 2
This article is extracted from a keynote address
at the North American Conference on Enterprise
Development Through Agroforestry: Farming the
Agroforest for Specialty Products.

International Links

by Sarah Workman,
NAC International Coordinator

The incorporation of trees can pro-
vide attractive economic returns in
small farm operations. This is especial-
ly true during years when crop harvest
is less than ideal and on marginal crop-
land, An article in Agroforestry Today
by Snook and Zapata discusses the
south-central portion of Mexico’s
Yucatan Peninsula. This area is adja-
cent to the largest continuous forest in
Central America and at times, is sub-
ject to wide fluctuation in rainfall. The
article describes how some farmers
have adopted a diversified production
strategy to harvest tree products and
other produce from their lands for con-
sumption and sale. The majority of
farmers said “they would participate in
an agroforestry project even with no
material support... to improve their
family’s well-being and security”
because trees “...provide food, cash,
and services for rural families.”

While reading this article, | was
struck by the reasons farmers gave for
choosing to adopt practices or not to
participate. Many of these reasons
were very similar to those heard in the
U.S. Much like comments we hear
about our CRP program, the two “rea-
sons cited most often for trying agro-
forestry options were the opportunity
to try out new crops and trees and the
prospect of receiving free services or
materials.” Reasons not to participate
included lack or uncertainty of a prod-
uct market, insufficient financial

resources or technical expertise, and not
enough labor to invest. Sound familiar?

Over the five years described in the
article, farmers and project staff
observed what did and did not work.
They modified designs and/or manage-
ment to allow the agroforestry systems
to evolve to suit particular needs and
preferences. “Collaboration between
researchers, farmers, agricultural and
forestry technicians has proved to be a
dynamic process that is effective in
generating, testing and refining agro-
forestry innovations - which contribute
to the production and conservation
agenda.” We at NAC are working
domestically to do the same thing. And,
we do not have to be in the middle of
large expanses of forest to profitably
grow trees.

There are many agroforestry exam-
ples around the world we can learn
from. A link I will leave you with is the
Australian Master TreeGrower website
at winw.mtg.unimelb.edu.au/, It pro-
vides information for those “interested
in the integration of commercial tree-
growing with farming systems, small
scale private forestry, private native for-
est management, and multipurpose tree
growing.” The Aussies are taking the
idea of Tree Farmer to great heights.
Take a look,

*Agroforestry Today (Jan-March 1998)
published quarterly by the International
Centre for Research in Agroforestry
(ICRAF).

1999 National
Small Farm Conference
October 12-15, 1999
St. Louis, Missouri

Planning is underway for the
second National Small Farm
Conference. The meeting will pro-
vide a forum for state and county
extension faculty, small farmers,
community leaders, and non-
governmental organizations to
share new approaches to small
farm programs. Participants may
wish to consider the conference
as a possible inservice training
opportunity.

For additional information, con-
tact:
* Dyremple Marsh,
Phone: 573-681-5550.
marshd@lincoin.edu
* Norlin Hein
Phone: 314-882-9385.
norlin_hein@ myccmail.
missouri.edu
* Mickie Swisher.
Phone: 202-401-4900.
mswisher@ reeusda.gov.
* Denis Ebodaghe.
Phone 202-401-4385.
debodaghe @ reeusda.gov

The conference will be sponsored
by CSREES in collaboration with
other USDA agencies, the EPA,
land-grant universities and col-
leges, community-based and non-
profit organizations.

Inside Agroforestry 9



, Inside fal

National Agroforestry Center

Forest Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service

Small Farms in
Appalachia
Well-Suited for
Agroforestry

by Dr. Carol Schumann, Research Horticulturist.
SDA-ARS Appalachian Soil & Water Conservation
Research Lab, Beaver, West Virginia

A typical farm in Appalachia is
approximately 120 acres, composed of
pasture and woodland in roughly equal
proportions, and has topography that
varies from gently rolling to steep. Most
agricultural enterprises in the region
depend on forage production from pas-
ture, managed either for grazing livestock
or hay production. Such operations are’
almost entirely part-time in nature. requir-
ing off-farm employment to support the
farm family.

Agroforestry, with its emphasis on
integrating components into diversified
systems, is well-suited to the small-scale
farms of Appalachia. Although not widely
practiced in the region at present. agro-
forestry technologies offer tremendous
potential for enhancing the economic via-
bility of Appalachian farms, both through
net increases in production and through
diversification of marketable products.

As with any new technology, a key to
realizing agroforestry's potential in the
region is the establishment of successful
research and demonstration project:
that people can observe the practices first-
hand in settings that might be similar to
what they have at home.

Demonstrating innovative and sustain-
able agricultural practices is one of the
comerstones of the Lightstone Foun-
dation. The Lightstone Foundation is a
nonprofit organization that serves as an
education and demonstration center for
practicing and supporting sustainable
family farming. natural resource manage-

50 Appalachia on page 6

eroforestry

Fall/Winter, 1998

Agroforestry: An Opportunity for Small
Farms With Big Needs

Editorial opinion by Jerry Bratton, Forest Service Lead Agroforester. NAC, Lincoln, Nebraska

An increasingly popular way to help diversi-
fy small farms is to introduce tree crops or
special forest products into the system.

Just what are “small farms" anyway?
When I first heard this term I wondered,
“do they mean miniature farms?” Are
small farmers people that are less than
five feet tall? Of course, I'm only joking.
But, when I went to a very good source of
information... The National Commission
on Small Farms report to the Secretary of
Agriculture, I got the answers I wanted.
They suggest a small farm is a farm “with
less than $250,000 gross receipts annual-
ly on which day-to-day labor and man-
agement are provided by the farmer
and/or the farm family that owns the pro-

This Issue

duction or owns, or leases, the productive

assets.” Well, $250K seems like a lot of

money! What's small about that? But the

Commission points out that this is to be

used as a general description only and is

not intended as an eligibility guideline.

They further clarify by stating, “One must

recognize that the economic effect of

$250,000 varies regionally. It is a large
sum in some regions, while barely suffi-
cient to provide a reasonable living in oth-
ers.” So, $250K might be a lot of money
in the delta of Mississippi but small in the
panhandle of Nebraska.

Are small farms an “endangered
species?” I've heard this question being
asked repeatedly and with considerable
concern. All across our nation small farm
operators struggle to make a living from
the land and in some cases money isn’t
the only reason to farm. Sometimes it’s
just to keep the “farming way of life.”
The Commission report went on to state:
+ Today, farmers are receiving 13

percent less for every consumer dollar

than they did 20 years ago.

+ Approximately 94 percent of all
present U.S. farms are considered
small farms. Today’s small farm
operators own 75 percent of the total
productive agricultural assets and
receive only 41 percent of all
agricultural receipts.

(See Opportunity on page 8)

HE Comments from USDA Office of Small Farms.......page 3

Hi lowa Farmer Is Doing A Little of Everything ......... page 4

i Conventional Versus Agroforestry Farming

The Facts on NAC..

page 5



pcoming Events

March 22-23 and March 24-25, 1999
Biotechnical Streambank Protection
Workshop, Nebraska City, NE. Contact
Nancy Hammond, fax: 402-437-5178.

April 7-9, 1999
Regional Agroforestry Workshop,
Ruston, LA. Contact Terry Clason,
318-927-2578.

April 7-9, 1999
Hybrid Poplars in the Pacific

Northwest: Culture, Commerce, and
Capability, Pasco. WA. Contact. Keith
Blatner, 509-335-6166.

June 12-16, 1999
Sixth Conference on Agroforestry in
North America -- Sustainable Land-
Use Management for the 21st Century
Hot Springs, AR. Contact, Dr. Catalino
A, Blanche, 501-675-3834

October 12-15, 1999
Second National Small Farm
Conference: Building Partnerships for
the 21st Century, St. Louis. MO.
Contact Dyremple Marsh, 573-68 |-
5550.

Inside Agroforestry is published quarterly by the
USDA National Agroforestry Center
Phone: 402-437-5178; Fax: 402-437-5712.

Greg Ruark. Center Director, ext. 27
Michele Schoeneberger.

FS Research Leader ext. 21
Jerry Bratton, FS Lead Agroforester ext. 24
Bruce Wight, NRCS Lead Agroforester ext. 36
Kim Isaacson, /A Editor ext. 3

Clover Shelton, Technology Assistant ext. 14
Jim Robinson, NRCS Agroforester

Fort Worth, TX phone: 817-809-3215
Gary Kuhn, NRCS Agroforester

Spokane, WA phone: 509-358-7946,

Web Site: www.unl.edu/nac

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

Research & Development (Rocky Mountain Rescarch Station) and State & Private Forestry and
the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Center's purpose is to accelerate the
development and application of agroforestry technologies to attain more economically, environ-
mentally. and socially sustainable land-use systems. To accomplish its mission, the Center inter
acts with a national network of partners and cooperators to conduct research, develop technolo-
gies and tools, establish demonstrations. and provide useful information to natural resource pro-
fessionals.

USDA policy prohibits discrimination because of ra
Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated
tact the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250,

¢. color, national origin, sex, jon, or handicapping condition

ye. rel
aainst in any USDA-related activity should immediately con

Opinions expressed in Inside Agroforestry are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the poli-
cy of the USDA Forest Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

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NAC Fact Sheet

USDA The USDA National Agroforestry Center
| A Forest Service — Natural Resources Conservation Service Partnership

Purpose: NAC isa pioneering program to accelerate the development of agroforestry, a science and practice
that integrates agriculture and forestry land uses. The partnership combines resources of the two agencies to
develop and apply agroforestry technologies in appropriate conservation and/or production systems for farms,

ranches, and communities.

Role: The Center serves as a catalyst to form partnerships, promote cooperation, and leverage resources. NAC
cooperates with a national network of agencies, universities, and organizations to encourage agroforestry research
and technology transfer. The Center strives to develop and deliver agroforestry technologies based on the needs

of resource professionals who assist landowners.

Programs:

Research & Development: Forest Service scientists and co-located NRCS scientists from the Watershed
Sciences Institute work with university cooperators to develop and integrate agroforestry technologies to attain
more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable ecosystems.

‘Technology ‘Iransfer & Applications: Forest Service and NRCS Agroforesters work with a national network of
cooperators to develop and distribute agroforestry technical information.

International Exchange: An International Coordinator facilitates the development of agroforestry projects with
international cooperators and selecusely involves agency and university protessiouals for mutual benetit.

For more information, call 402-437-5178 (extensions listed below):
Administration

+ Dr. Greg Ruark, Center Director, ext. 27
Research & Development

+ Dr. Michele Schoeneberger. FS Research Lcader and Soil Scientist. ext. 21
Technology Transfer & Applications

+ Jerry Bratton. FS Lead Agroforester, ext, 24

* Bruce Wight, NRCS Lead Agroforester, ext. 36.

+ Gary Kuhn, NRCS Agroforester. located Spokane, WA. Phone: 509-358-7946.

+ Jim Robinson. NRCS Agroforester, located in Ft. Worth, TX. Phone: 817-509-3215.
International Technology Exchange

* Dr. Sarah Workman. International Coordinator, ext. 40 florthern
Geographic Contacts

* Northeast, Bruce Wight

+ Southeast, Jim Robinson

* Midwest, Bruce Wight West

* Northern Plains, Jerry Bratton Ty

+ West, Gary Kuhn South

Midwest

Northeast

Serving natural resource professionals

Inside Agroforestry il


iaeimiacccm Alabama

Agroforestry on Small Farms on the Southeastern U.S.

Ay Peter R, Mount, Extension Forester. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee,

In Alabama forestry planning commit-
tees are set up at the county level. This is
a good place to start when trying to intro-
duce a program. These committees are
composed of landowners, as well as
agency representatives who conduct edu-
cational programs such as field days and
tours.

To have a small farmer adopt any form
of agroforestry practice. it helps to work
with peer group Icaders to demonstrate
the profitability of the practice. One of the
best ways to reach underserved farmers is
through the local community structure. In
Alabama, local churches and ministers are
an excellent way of making contact with-
in many communities. There is a great

(Opportunity from page 1)

Alabama

deal of opportunity to develop the various
phases of agroforestry in the southeast and
it is the responsibility of natural resource
professionals to make these known to
local residents, many times, through cre-
ative channels.

Small farmers in this area of the coun-
try are most apt to work on part-time
operations, with the major source of their
income being derived off-farm. This well
often dictate which types of farming prac-
tices are used. The main agroforestry
emphasis tends to be silvopastoral situa-
tions, grazing cattle in pine woodland:
While this is a common practice, it is
often not practiced as a designed agro-
forestry system. Increased use of agro-

forestry technologies could greatly
improve the economic performance of
these grazing/timber systems.

There are many barriers to the adop-
tion of most agroforestry practices. These
include, among others: available financ-
ing, lack of a well-defined market, reluc-
tance to change. and lack of knowledge
about opportunities which might exist.
Probably the greatest untapped agro-
forestry opportunity for small farmers in
the South is with forest farming-- raking
pine straw, growing medicinal plants.
growing shiitake mushrooms, gathering
decorative materials, or other such spe-
cialized operations. >

+ Approximately 40 percent of these
farmers consider farming as their
primary occupation. Another 41
percent farm part-time and rely on
non-farm jobs as their primary souree
of income.

Most of these farms are referred to as
“family farms.” One might ask. are these
farms in economic jeopardy? Is the small
farm “way of life” in peril? The answer
would have to be Y

Some schools of thought recommend
that small farms should go the “way of
the dinosaur.” If they can’t survive in an
open, competitive market they should dis-
appear. In my opinion this thinking needs
to be altered or reversed. Small farms are
more than mere rural entrepreneurships.
They represent a way of life that has set
many of our rural values and determined
much of our land management or conser-
vation agendas. I sincerely believe that
small farm operations remain the corner-
stone of our nations agricultural system.
We need to do all we can to keep them
operating effectively and efficiently. We
have a historical commitment of promot-
ing small farm ideals dating back to the
time of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson rec-
ognized the importance of small farms
and made conserving them the core of his

agricultural policy. This commitment
should not be abandoned. It’s time small
farm operators and underserved minority
farmers are recognized for their contribu-
tion to our nation.

The title of the Commission on Small
Farms Report is A Time To Act. Thi

“All of the five major
agroforestry practices
have the potential to assist
the small farm operator
become more versatile

and sustainable.”

most appropriate title as many small farms
are experiencing desperate times and it is,
indeed time to do something about it.
Most agroforestry specialists and propo-
nents suggest that agroforestry systems
and practices arc tailor-made solutions to
some of the small farm dilemma.
Agroforestry can address many of the
social, economic, and environmental chal-
lenges that face small farms and ranches.
When adopted into a system with other

economic and conservation practices,
agroforestry can assist small farm agri-
culture in becoming inable:

Small farms are well-positioned to
respond to change. They can not only
produce foodstuffs. but also a variety of
specialty products. They are especially
adapted to producing exclusive products
for niche markets. When small farm oper-
ators adopt agroforestry practices they
develop ways of enhancing or dive
ing their farm products. That means they
don’t have to rely on just one or two farm
products for their livelihood. As the old
saying goes. “they won't have all their
eggs in one basket.” Economic diversifi-
cation allows the farm operator the ability
to derive income from multiple sources
and still reduce erosion, improve utiliza-
tion of nutrients, increase production,
improve wildlife habitat, and enhance
farm aesthetics.

All of the five major agroforestry
practices (alley cropping, riparian forest
buffers, silvopasture, windbreaks, and
forest farming) have potential to assist
the small farm operator become more
versatile and sustainable. All we need to
do is be creative with USDA farm pro-
grams to find better ways to get technolo-
gytothem! >

8 Inside Agroforestry


Spotlight On Success

“Comprehensive Integrated Agroforestry”

by Tom Wahl and Kathy Dice, Owners Khana Farm, Wapello, lowa

These tree plantings are arranged in 1/10th acre blocks with one
species to a block. With up to 10 species of trees per acre, this
arrangement, plus the natural vegetative ground cover results in
high biodiversity.

Comprehensive Integrated Agroforestry is a system of st
tainable agriculture I established on my farm near Wapello in
southeast Towa. It combines a number of agroforestry pra .
including forest farming. shelterbelts, riparian butter strip:
vopasture, and a few others which have yet to be named.

The project. which was funded in part by the USDA’s Sus-
tainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program
and the Practical Farmers of Iowa. cor of plantings of fruit
and nut trees arranged in 1/10th acre blocks. one sp toa
block. Adjacent blocks contain different and preferably unrelated
species.

Up to 10 species of trees may be planted on cach acre. This
arrangement plus the natural vegetative ground cover results in
high biodiversity. The diversity prevents serious outbreaks of
pests and diseases and provides excellent habitat for wild plants
and animals.

‘The plantings are on level ridge tops. one to three acres in
size. Between the ridges are steep-sloped drainages left in native

sil-

timber. The drainages serve several purposes, including shelter-
belts for the tree plantings, riparian buffer strips. and wildlife
travel corridors.

High-value medicinal plants such as ginseng, goldenseal, and
Echinacea are interplanted under and between the trees on ridge
tops and drainages. The soil is kept covered by vegetation and
mulch. The ground cover is initially managed by mowing. As the
trees mature, rotational grazing may be used. Ferti is by
animal manure and wood ashes. Most of the tree species produce
valuable wood, and are managed for both fruit/nut production and
for lumber‘veneer. The intensive management yields crops at four
levels: underground (medicinal roots). ground level (medicinal
plant tops and livestock forage). in the trunks of the trees (fuel.
lumber. veneer). and at the tips of the twigs (fruit. nuts. leaves).

Tree species included in the system so far are black walnut,
hazelnut. chestnut. pecan, shellbark and shagbark hickories,
heartnut. nut pines, ginkgo. persimmon, and pawpaw. Some
species which may be added in the future are kiwi, medlar, may-
pop. passionflower. and grapes.

The agroforestry system has
tional agriculture. including: negligible soil erosio
use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides: low fo:
sumption; no need for expensive, high-tech equipment: high bio-
diversity: excellent habitat for wild plants and animals: a positive
balance between energy produced and energy consumed: efficient
use of solar energy: a carbon sink (CO) removed from the atmos-
phere and put in long term storage): a durable system requiring
little or no human intervention once established: diversified
income sources: high profit potential from a small area of land
(potentially more than $20,000 per acre per year at maturity): and
a healthier. more aesthetically pleasing environment for humans.

‘The system has some major disadvantages. A large investment
in capital. labor and time are needed for establishment. There is a
long lag time between that initial investment and the first returns.
the break-even point. and the mature level of production.

In spite of these disadvantages. I am confident this system will
prove to be a viable alternative to conventional agriculture. @B

veral advantages over conven-
: little or no
fuel con-

Biotechnical Streambank Protection Measures Workshops
March 22-23 and March 24-25, 1999

Two workshops will be held at the Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City. Nebraska. The workshops will consist of a half-day

classroom introduction to biotechnical streambank protection measur

Participants will then be taught how to install several

measures on a stream running through the farm. For more information.

e-mail Nancy Hammond at nhammond:rmrs lincoln (a fs,fed.us or fax her at 402-437-5712.

4 Inside Agroforestry


Sustaining the Small Farm—A Role For Agroforestry

by Adela Backiel, Director, USDA Office of Sustainable Development and Small Farms, Washington, D.C.

As a nation, achieving sustainable
development will mean finding ways to
successfully incorporate social, economic,
and environmental factors into the many
decisions that impact our rural enterprises

“Small farms play an
important role in
sustaining the fabric

of rural America.”

and communities. We must balance the
goals of improved production and prof-
itability with good stewardship of our nat-
ural resources while enhancing the vitality
of our rural communities. Small farms
play an important role in sustaining the
fabric of rural America. Unfortunately,
small, family owned and operated farms

are facing serious challenges. For many of

these producers economic diversification
has come to mean taking a second job off-
farm to help support the farm or ranch
enterprise.

Agroforestry technologies could pro-
vide a key component to help these enter-
prises to become more self-sufficient.
Agroforestry is one of the best examples
of putting sustainable development into
practice. It is an integrated, interdiscipli
nary science which strives to provide
alternatives for economic diversification,
while also contributing environmental
benefits. Agroforestry is seldom a stand-
alone enterprise but can and should be
integrated into existing farm operations.
It can help keep producers producing,
while also improving the health of rural
communities and conserving natural
resources.

Using agroforestry practices to help
sustain small farms will require an invest-
ment in people, places, and markets:

People — There is a need to improve
the infrastructure for providing informa-
tion and education on agroforestry.
Agroforestry crosses multiple technical

li-

disciplines, so foresters, agronomists,
economists, soil scientists, entomologists,
and others will need to work together to
develop effective systems that can incor-
porate the uses of trees and shrubs with
crops and livestock production. Natural
resource professionals will need to be
equipped with sufficient technical infor-
mation to allow them to work with
landowners in exploring a fuller set of
agricultural options that include agro-
forestry practices. Even consumers will
need to be educated on the potential bene-
fits and uses of agroforestry products.
Places — Amidst all the current talk
about an emerging global economy, there

Adela Backiel
becomes Director
of new USDA Office
of Sustainable Development
and Small Farms

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On October 6, 1998 Secretary
Glickman established the USDA
Office of Sustainable Development
and Small Farms within the Office
of the Chief Economist and named
Adela Backiel as its Director. She
will serve as the Executive Director
of the USDA Council on Small
Farms, as well as continue to chair
the USDA Council on Sustainable
Development. For the past three
years Backiel had been the USDA
Director of Sustainable
Development.

This new office recognizes that
many of the issues related to small
farms are, in fact, aspects of sus-
tainablity and specifically links the
issue of small farms to the larger
issue of sustainable development.
The office also includes new posi-
tions for a Deputy Director for
Small Farms and a Deputy Director
{| for Sustainable Development.

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is growing interest in building and
strengthening local and regional agricul-
tural production systems - systems
where small farms can produce food and
materials for local communities. This
would allow local communities to meet
their own consumption needs in ways that
would require less energy for transporta-
tion and processing. Communities could
develop businesses to manufacture value-
added products for resale in regional,
national, and global markets. All this
would lead to a strengthening of relation-
ships between farmers and citizens of
rural communities. Additionally, direct
marketing activities like farmer’s markets
can help forge an alliance between rural
and urban populations.

Markets — This decade has witnessed
a dramatic increase in the demand for nat-
ural products. New or expanded markets
for agroforestry derived products like gin-
seng, shiitake mushrooms, and decorative
ferns have created economic opportuni-
ties for farmers. Individuals are beginning
to market these products directly and
some local communities are developing
small businesses. One way to give sup-
port for rural enterprise development
includes improving the ability of local
producers and entrepreneurs to obtain
credit from local lenders, who themselves
often need reliable statistical data on the
performance of agroforestry systems
before they can loan money. Often new or
alternative crops are not eligible for crop
insurance or disaster payments, thereby
placing all of the risk on the producer

USDA recognizes the need for strong
leadership and has made a committment
“to working toward the economic, envi-
ronmental, and social sustainability of
diverse food, fiber, agriculture, forest and
range systems.” We must improve the
coordination among USDA agencies and
look for additional opportunities to
include agroforestry options into pro-
grams, such as the Conservation Reserve
Program, Stewardship Incentives
Program, Environmental Quality
Incentives Program, and others.

The arbitrary segragation between

(See Sustaining on page 9)

Inside Agroforestry 3



NAC Director’s Corner

When the USDA National Commission on Small Farms
Report was issued in January 1998, it listed four recommenda-
tions on agroforestry and concluded that .... “USDA extension,
conservation, and forestry services should make greater efforts
to promote and support agroforestry as part of an economic
and ecological strategy for a healthy agriculture.”

Approximately 60 percent of all U.S. farms are less than
180 acres in size. However, 60 percent of farm receipts are
attributed to only six percent of farms with gross sales in
excess of $250,000. Over the past 20 years 300,000 small
farms have been lost in the U.S.

Today many farmers and ranchers are struggling to make a
livelihood on small acreage farms. They often have limited
financial means and are seeking ways to maximize their
income-per-acre, while keeping their requirement for pur-
chased inputs low. Agroforestry technologies offer a suite of
practices that can readily be integrated into many small farm
operations. These practices can provide for product diversifica-
tion and increased income, while simultaneously enhancing
natural resource conservation and helping rural communities
remain viable.

Although some agroforestry practices, like alley cropping,
require a lengthy time period to establish and realize a return
on investment or, like tree-based riparian buffers, are primarily
designed to provide environmental benefits, there are several
agroforestry practices that can be used to rapidly generate
income. Farmers and ranchers who have existing farm wood-
lots can often thin these stands to allow sufficient light to pene-
trate into the understory for the purpose of growing speciality

A commentary on the status of agroforestry

Small Farms and Agroforestry

by Center Director, Dr. Greg Ruark

or forage crops. The thinning also improves the growth and
quality of the remaining trees, for example:

Silvopasture — Recent research has shown that many for-
age grasses produce equivalent or greater biomass when grown
with up to 50 percent shade, and in many cases this forage is
more digestible than forage grown in an open pasture. This
knowledge is helping to further the design of integrated tim-
ber/grazing systems that allow high value sawlogs to be grown
as a long-term product, while on the same acre annual income
can be realized from livestock production. The trees also
reduce stress on livestock by providing shade and shelter.
These “silvopasture” agroforestry systems are normally devel-
oped for conifer stands and require careful management to
insure compatibility of livestock and trees.

Forest Farming — Many high-value speciality crops are
now being cultivated under the protection of a forest canopy
that has been modified to provide the appropriate microclimate
and light conditions. Meanwhile quality sawlogs are being pro-
duced as a long-term economic strategy. Crops like ginseng,
shiitake mushrooms, and decorative ferns are being grown and
sold for medicinal, culinary, or ornamental uses.

Where trees are not already present there are also numerous
special applications that can be considered. Tree and shrub
plantings may be used to provide cost-effective solutions to on-
farm problems like disposal of animal wastes, odor reduction,
visual screening, and filtering irrigation water. Where markets
exists for biofuels or pulp wood chips, fast growing hybrid
poplar trees (five- to 15-year rotations) are now being planted
to provide added farm income. p>

Working Trees for Livestock Brochures

Traditional thinking has been that live-
stock and trees can’t co-exist. Yet modern
agricultural practice is showing that live-
stock and trees not only can co-exist but,
if properly managed, can provide addi-
tional income from land formerly used for
a single crop.

Our new Working Trees for Livestock
brochure is now available. It will acquaint
you with some of the specific ways you
and your land can benefit by putting trees
to work for your livestock. Trees can pro-
vide livestock with protection from cold

2 Inside Agroforestry

wind and blowing snow in winter, as well
as from the hot sun and drying winds of
summer. And, if commercially desirable
timber or nut trees are planted, landown-
ers can enjoy significant additional
income from this diverse use of their
land.

Also available is our Working Trees
Sor Livestock: Silvopasture in the
Southeast brochure.

E-mail Nancy at the Center to obtain
either of these brochures: nhammond/

rmrs_lincoln@fs.fed.us. @B

Working
Trees for

Livestock has a

national scope.

Bottom: ~ Working

Trees for Livestock:
Silvopasture in the Southeast