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Alley Cropping. Forest Farming. Riparian Buffers. The Agroforestry Academy: A Crash Course to Educate Natural Resource Professionals and Develop the Knowledge Infrastructure . Silvopasture. Windbreaks. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The Agroforestry Academy: A Crash Course to
Educate Natural Resource Professionals and Develop the Knowledge Infrastructure
Alley Cropping
Forest Farming
Riparian Buffers
Silvopasture
Windbreaks
1Michael A. Gold, 2MAAWG 1University of Missouri
2Mid-American Agroforestry Working Group
The “Get Smart” Analogy
• Experience over 25 years has taught us that multiple “doors” lie between the promise and the reality of widespread agroforestry adoption and utilization
• It is essential to identify the doors (e.g., culture, tradition, knowledge gaps, science, risk, funding, policy)
• And do the work to open them
Where is all the Agroforestry? Significant advances made in the science and
practice of agroforestry over the past 25 years. However, on-the-ground application of
agroforestry practices has lagged. Exception: USDA government subsidized
windbreaks and riparian buffers. Creating greater awareness of agroforestry’s
benefits (financial and ecological) will lead to: Increased acceptance and adoption of agroforestry, Result in increased financial security, Enhance environmental protection for all classes of
farmers, ranchers, forest owners, and communities.
Background Issues – Knowledge Infrastructure
The Knowledge Infrastructure for Agriculture• Huge information network supporting the
landowner Commodity groups (Farm Bureau, Corn and
Soybean Growers Assns, Cattlemen, etc.) Agribusiness (e.g., Cargill, ADM, Monsanto, seed
and equipment dealers), Certified Crop Advisors (thousands)
NRCS/FSA assistance widely available Land Grant University research, education and
extension USDA funding programs – abundant in supply Farm Bill safety net to offset losses
The Knowledge Infrastructure for Agroforestry• Paper thin information network supporting the
landowner No agribusiness or commodity group support No Land Grant support in research, education or
extension No network of “advisors” No USDA research $$$, no policy support No tradition, no culture High financial risk, no farmer safety nets No value given to non-market environmental benefits
Background Issues – Knowledge Infrastructure
An Uphill Battle
Chestnut Training Program “Graduates” Chinese Chestnut – Pumpkin Intercrop
Napton, MO
Chestnut Training Program “Graduates” Chinese Chestnut – Winter Wheat
IntercropNapton, MO
*Key Organizations Supporting Development of the Knowledge Infrastructure for Agroforestry
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), 1935 USDA Soil Conservation Service, 1935 (Dustbowl and CCC)
University of Guelph, (1st NAAC), 1989 Iowa State University, Riparian Buffers, Bear Creek, 1990 NAC (Center for Semi-Arid Agroforestry), 1990 (USFS/NRCS) Cornell University, Center for the Environment, 1993 AFTA, Association for Temperate Agroforestry, 1993 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Windbreaks UMCA, University of Missouri, 1998 1890 AF Consortium CINRAM, University of Minnesota, 1998 (???) Virginia Tech, Forest Farming, (www.extension.org/forest_farming) NC State University, Forest Farming (NCHerb.org) Mid-American Agroforestry Working Group (MAAWG),
2009
*List not intended to be complete, others have been involved over time (PENN ST, U of KY, ORE ST, U of FL, U of GA, ARS in W. VA and ARK, …)
Key Publications Supporting the Development of the Knowledge Infrastructure (list not inclusive)
Tree Crops for Energy Co-production on Farms, 1980, S.E.R.I. Agroforestry Systems Journal, 1982-present Proceedings of North American Agroforestry Conferences,
1989 – 2013 Agroforestry: An Integrated Land Use Management System for
Production and Farmland Conservation, 1994, SCS Proceedings from the Specialty Forest Products/Forest Farming
Conference, 1998, CINRAM Agroforestry in the United States, Research and Technology Transfer
Needs for the Next Millennium, 2000, AFTA Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors,
and Greenways, 2010, NAC Using NRCS Technical and Financial Assistance to Establish
Elderberry, 2011, UMCA USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework, 2011-2016 Financial Decision Support Tools, 2011, UMCA Training Manual for Applied Agroforestry Practices, 2013,
UMCA Handbook for Agroforestry Planning and Design, 2013, UMCA Agroforestry: USDA Reports to America, FY 2011–2012, 2013
Agroforestry Adoption – 4 P’s
• To achieve agroforestry adoption will require: Partnerships Programs Professionals Peer-to-Peer Learning
The Agroforestry Academy is based on:An established partnership – MAAWG Funded by a program – NCR-SARE PDPDesigned to train professionals who willBe involved in follow on Peer-to-Peer
Learning
Agroforestry Academy - PartnershipsMid-American Agroforestry Working Group (MAAWG)
MO, NE, IA, MN, WIPIs• Michael Gold: University of Missouri, Center for Agroforestry• Mihaela Cernusca: University of Missouri, Center for Agroforestry• Diomy Zamora: University of Minnesota• Jeri Neal: Iowa State University, Leopold Center, MAAWG• Shibu Jose: University of Missouri, Center for Agroforestry• Larry Godsey: Missouri Valley College (formerly MU Center for
Agroforestry)• Richard Schultz: Iowa State University• Richard Straight: USDA Forest Service, National Agroforestry Center• Dusty Walter: University of Missouri (formerly Center for Agroforestry)• Andy Mason: USDA Forest Service, National Agroforestry Center (Director)• Richard Warner: University of Minnesota, Green Lands Blue Waters
Other Trainers• Bruce Wight: USDA NRCS National Forester (retired)• David Shelton: University of Nebraska• John Munsell: Va Tech• Doug Wallace: USDA NRCS National Agroforester (retired)• Mark Kennedy: NRCS Missouri
Farmers - 2013• Nicola McPherson: Ozark Forest Mushrooms, MO• Dan Shepherd: Shepherd Farms, MO• Terry Durham: Eridu Farms, MO• Fred Martz Martz Family Farm, MO
Agroforestry Academy - ProgramMAAWG via NCR-SARE PDPProject Goal and Objectives
Goal To achieve on-the-ground adoption of
agroforestryObjectives Create a regional agroforestry knowledge
network۞ Train a core group of individuals who deal with
land management issues and/or interact with farmers and landowners.
۞ Facilitate collaboration among researchers, extension personnel, crop advisors, practitioners, diverse disciplines, departments and colleges, and different agencies and organizations.
Agroforestry Academy – ProfessionalsTrain-the-Trainer
Agriculture and Natural Resource professionals
Univ. Extension personnel USDA NRCS, and FSA field staff University faculty (1862, 1890, 1994 - regional Colleges or
Universities) Sustainable agriculture /permaculture leaders including
USDA SARE staff Conservation groups (especially w/tree or forest missions
e.g., Trees Forever) and similar organizations from MO, IA, MN, NE, WI
• Certified Crop Advisors• Soil and Water Conservation District personnel • Farm Bureau, Farmers Union• Others
Agroforestry Academy – Approach
Updated agroforestry training manual. Created new Handbook for Planning/Design.
MAAWG/NAC, 3 new agroforestry case studies
Monthly teleconference planning meetings w/project team (MAAWG coordinated).
Conduct Agroforestry Academy. o Organize and conduct week long “Train-the-trainer”
Agroforestry Academy, 2013 and 2014.o Classroom presentations, field visits to practitioners’
farms, and a “hands-on landowner case study” group project exercise, with field visits focused on agroforestry planning and design.
MAAWG Project Outputs - 2013 Awarded SARE PDP grant to hold Agroforestry Academy Updated agroforestry training curricula
a) Release and distribution of the updated 2013 Agroforestry Training Manual; and b) New Handbook for Agroforestry Planning and Design.c) New agroforestry case studies.
One Agroforestry Academy per year, 2013 and 2014. First Academy completed, August 2013
Spin off trainings including other regions A total of 27 professionals from 7 states trained during the
2013 Academy . Online learning community network for academy
participants and graduates.a) Recorded workshops will be available online, UMCA website.b) Online directory of agroforestry professionals and
practitioners (in process).c) Regional inventory of on-the-ground applications of
agroforestry practices (biggest challenge).
Images from the 2013 Academy
Dan Shepherd, Pecan Orchard, Alley CroppingControls Value Chain
Terry Durham, Eridu Farms, Elderberries, Creating Industry, Value Added
MU Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, Chestnut Production
Lincoln Univ., Busby Farm Goat Silvopasture, Control Invasives, Reduce Fire Risk
Dr. Andy Mason, Agroforestry Academy Classroom Sessions
Participants very satisfied with Academy. Overall quality rated excellent = 71%, good = 29%. Topics covered (4.58), content (4.56), organization
(4.56) and time for discussion (4.12) all received high marks (on a 1-5 point scale).
Top rated aspects of Academy (5 pt scale) were: farm visits (4.6), silvopasture (4.48), alley cropping (4.2), training manual
(4.09), forest farming/windbreaks (4.08), Handbook (4.05), case study (4.0).
Post Academy Evaluation and Feedback
Major gains in subject matter knowledge
Post Academy Evaluation and Feedback
Agroforestry PolicySilvopasture Practices
Creating an Agroforestry PlanMarketing Agroforestry Products
Agroforestry Extension & Outreach Tax Considerations / Incentives
Forest Farming
Scale: 1 (nothing), 2 (very little), 3 (some), 4 (quite a bit) and 5 (a lot)
N=27
100% indicated that they benefited from information about agroforestry practices
96% motivated to continue learning about agroforestry and to disseminate information about agroforestry
92% motivated to get their organization more involved in agroforestry
Important benefits from academy participation the network of participants and trainers resource materials for future use
Post Academy Evaluation and Feedback
MAAWG / NAC / UMN / UMCA Outputs - 2013 Supporting the Development of the Knowledge Infrastructure
First International Elderberry Symposium, 2013, MU/UMCA Living Snow Fence Cost Calculator, 2013, Univ. of MN Windbreak Financial Decision Tool, 2013, NAC/UMCA Training Manual for Applied Agroforestry Practices, 2013,
UMCA Handbook for Agroforestry Planning and Design, 2013,
UMCA Agroforestry Case Study: Chestnuts at Red Fern Farm, 2013,
MAAWG/NAC Agroforestry Case Study: Elderberries at East Grove Farm,
2013, MAAWG/NAC Agroforestry Case Study: Silvopasture at Early Boots Farm,
2013, MAAWG/NAC Agroforestry: USDA Reports to America, FY 2011–2012 In-
Brief, 2013, USDA NAC
Widespread adoption and use requires multiple, integrated, deliberate and opportunistic approaches including the 4 P’s (Partnerships, Programs, Professionals, Peer-to-Peer Learning)
achieved through: trained educators (certified agroforesters, online MS and
graduate certificate, agroforestry academy) active partnerships, networks top down support (government-$-policy) and bottom up
(landowners and key organizations) high tech (research breakthroughs) and high touch (one-
on-one, peer-to-peer outreach) market driven approach to conservation targeted funding to develop specialty crop industries with
detailed financial information to cut risk
Summary – Agroforestry Academy Helping to Develop the Infrastructure
Topics for Our Afternoon Session The Future of Agroforestry
•Locally led conservation initiatives–Small watershed scale (Cover Crop Champions -NWF, Farm Link)
•More work on finances, marketing, markets, co-ops•More work on “the science behind the practices”•Requires supporting policy changes and funding•More trained professionals to promote AF•More case studies with real world examples•More partnerships, linked “communities of interest”----------------------------------------------------------------------? How to scale-up agroforestry outreach ?? Role for distance education to bring AF knowledge to a larger audience ? Absolutely yes.? What kind of educational/outreach materials do we still need ?
Questions? / Comments…