What do Vermonters who make a living from the land think about agroforestry? How could agroforestry improve farm viability, reduce stormwater runoff, improve soils, and provide a more diverse habitat for domestic livestock and wildlife? What could agroforestry systems look like in Vermont?
What do Vermonters who make a living from the land think about agroforestry? How could agroforestry improve farm viability, reduce stormwater runoff, improve soils, and provide a more diverse habitat for domestic livestock and wildlife? What could agroforestry systems look like in Vermont?
In October 2018, a team of federal, state, and private leaders met to discuss the potential for greater agroforestry opportunities in Vermont. Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and livestock farming. This can create environmental, economic, and climate adaptation benefits. Increasing interest from farmers and conservation professionals, with questions like the ones posed above, indicated it was time to further investigate these innovative practices.
The initial effort to begin the discussions and outline the next steps was small and focused. Word of the gathering spread quickly. The group grew to include almost 30 interested individuals from federal, state, university, and private organizations. The diversity of requests to join showed high interest in this topic from across the field. With help from Kate MacFarland of the USDA National Agroforestry Center and Meghan Giroux of Interlace Agroforestry Farm & Commons, we organized a Clayplain Forest Farm tour in New Haven, followed by presentations and interactive discussion at the UVM Extension Office in Middlebury.
Kate MacFarland and Meghan Giroux presented on ‘What is agroforestry and how can it support Vermont farmers?’ We then opened a listening session to discover and prioritize the group’s ideas on ‘what is needed to make agroforestry more successful in Vermont? What next steps should we take to develop a successful strategy?’
The top rated items for both needs and next steps were:
- Assemble a stakeholder team to develop a strategy, vision, and goals for agroforestry in the state
- Provide more economic information, including identifying and enhancing markets for agroforestry products and the supply chain
- Define agroforestry management practices specific to Vermont and better understand what applicable practices work in the landscape
- Identify or create commercially viable demonstration sites to establish a track record of the effects of agroforestry
- Provide training and workshops
Additionally, the stakeholders in the room listed their ideas for what elements should be included in a strategy for agroforestry in Vermont. A stakeholder team will consider elements such as: Current Use (property taxation implications), economic markets and trade-offs, transitions, access to land, environmental, economic and climate benefits, integration of traditional forests, inappropriate use of practices (such as introduction of invasive species), landscape scale opportunities, soil productivity, and forest heath.
Next Steps:
A stakeholder team is currently being assembled to develop a strategy, vision, and goals for agroforestry in Vermont. Anyone interested in being part of this team, or in agroforestry, can contact: Alex DePillis, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets: Alex.DePillis@vermont.gov or Kate MacFarland, USDA National Agroforestry Center: katherine.macfarland@usda.gov
Check out the USDA National Agroforestry Center website for information on agroforestry ranging from basic explanations to peer-reviewed research.