The Agroforestry Academy: A Crash Course to Educate Natural Resource Professionals and Develop the Knowledge Infrastructure Alley Cropping Forest Farming Riparian Buffers Silvopasture Windbreaks

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 Intercrop Napton, 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, (1 st 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, AF Consortium  CINRAM, University of Minnesota, 1998 (???) Virginia Tech, 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,  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 PDP  Designed to train professionals who will  Be involved in follow on Peer-to-Peer Learning

Agroforestry Academy - Partnerships Mid-American Agroforestry Working Group (MAAWG) MO, NE, IA, MN, WI PIs 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 Nicola McPherson:Ozark Forest Mushrooms, MO Dan Shepherd:Shepherd Farms, MO Terry Durham:Eridu Farms, MO Fred MartzMartz Family Farm, MO

Agroforestry Academy - Program MAAWG via NCR-SARE PDP Project 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 – Professionals Train-the-Trainer Agriculture and Natural Resource professionals Univ. Extension personnel USDA NRCS, and FSA field staff University faculty (1862, 1890, 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 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 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 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 Cropping Controls 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 Policy Silvopasture Practices Creating an Agroforestry Plan Marketing 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 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…