Steve Bertjens is the director of Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development. Along with UW-Extension Emerging Ag Market Teams, The Country Today and Sauk County Ag Agent Paul Dietmann, he presented a range of income options for small farms at the Income Options Conference on Nov. 12 and 13 in Baraboo. Agriforestry Farming the woods is one option Bertjens advised considering as beneficial for a small farm. Trees can be planted in areas where farming other crops are not recommended. It requires getting educated about forestry and safety when harvesting forest products, consulting with a forester, developing a plan and becoming woods conscious.
Trees help with erosion control.
Tree harvesting is best done when the ground is frozen and that is the time when farmers may be underemployed. The crops are in the barn, in sealed storage or at the market. Livestock chores at the beginning and the end of the day may not translate into a full day of work for a few months of the year. Trees can be harvested in stages. Some trees provide excellent growing medium for shiitake mushrooms.