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

agroforestry

Objectives 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”

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? 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…