UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION

 

Agroforestry

Agroforestry is the synergistic blend of agricultural, rangeland, and forestry practices and concepts as a means to diversify traditional and non-traditional goods, services, markets, and revenue. Common agroforestry practices include:

• Alley Cropping – growing crops between rows of shrubs and/or trees
• Riparian Forest Buffers – planting trees/shrubs adjacent to bodies of water
• Silvopasture – sustainable integration of grazing and forestry
• Special Forest Products – Forest Farming
  • Culinary – mushrooms, leaks (ramps), persimmons, pecans, syrup
  • Wood-based – walking sticks, carvings, baskets, novelties
  • Medicinal – ginseng, goldenseal, black cohosh, bloodroot
• Windbreaks – planting of trees/shrubs to manage the effect of wind on erosion and soil moisture in addition to other benefits

For more information on agroforestry practices, please visit the USDA National Agroforestry Center, University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, and Non-Timber Forest Products web sites.

Useful Links

Alley Cropping (Agriculture Crops with Tree Crops)

• USDA National Agroforestry Center, Alley Cropping
• University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Alley Cropping

Forest Farming (Edibles, Medicinals, Ornamentals, Decoratives)

• USDA National Agroforestry Center, Forest Farming
• University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Forest Farming
• USDA Forest Service, Virginia Tech, Top of the Ozarks RC&D, Missouri – Non-Timber Forest Products
• The Ohio State University Extension, North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual
• Penn State Cooperative Extension, Maple Syrup – A Taste of Nature
• Cornell Sugar Maple Research and Extension Program
• IDNR, Illinois Ginseng Conservation Law and Regulations
• IDNR, Illinois Licensed Ginseng Dealers
• Illinois Christmas Tree Association
• University of Illinois Extension, Christmas Trees & More
• The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio Christmas Tree Producers Manual

Riparian Forest Buffers (Design, Maintenance and Establishment)

• USDA National Agroforestry Center, Riparian Forest Buffers
• University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Riparian Forest Buffers
• Iowa State University Extension, Riparian Buffer Systems
• USDA Forest Service, Riparian Forest Buffers
• USDA Forest Service, Flooding and its Effects on Trees
• Virginia Cooperative Extension, Understanding the Science behind Riparian Forest Buffers
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Riparian Area Information and Fact Sheets
• University of Maryland, Riparian Forest Buffer Design, Establishment, and Maintenance
• University of Maryland, Trees for Riparian Forest Buffers

Silvopasture (Grazing & Forestry)

• USDA National Agroforestry Center, Silvopasture
• University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Silvopasture

Special Applications

• USDA National Agroforestry Center, Special Applications

Windbreaks (Design, Maintenance and Establishment)

• USDA National Agroforestry Center, Windbreaks
• University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Windbreaks
• Illinois Windbreak Manual
• NRCS, Windbreaks

Additional Links

• University of Illinois, AgroEcology Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP)
• North Central Region, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education