FOR-110: Agroforestry and Non-Timber Forest Products

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, LEXINGTON, KY, 40546

FOR-110

Agroforestry Agroforestry and Non-Timber Forest Products Deborah B. Hill, Department of Forestry

Agroforestry is the may introduce trees into open habitats that are cur- practice of integrating rently treeless, forest farming starts with a forest or long-term tree crops forested area and manages it in such a way as to pro- with annual agronomic duce either short-term (relative to timber production) crops and/or livestock. or annual non-timber forest products. This type of integrated Most woodland owners or farmers who have woods agriculture has been on their property are not enthusiastic about plant- successfully practiced ing trees in their open areas, or implementing new for thousands of years techniques that may require time and money, without in many parts of the also quickly showing a return on their investment. world, especially in Although there are guidelines regarding how each of the tropics. Temper- the techniques is to be designed, each agroforestry ate regions have been practice can and should be customized to meet the a bit slower to adopt owners’ personal objectives and to work effectively agroforestry practices, on their land. Each of the agroforestry techniques is but in the past decade designed primarily to increase diversity and sustain- or so, there has been ability on farms and forest lands. In addition, they are increasing interest designed to provide some form of marketable com- in using agroforestry techniques in temper- erosion control, improved water quality or shade for ate countries around livestock.modity as Since well introducingas less tangible trees benefits into the such system as soilis a the world. Use of a long- basic activity involved in all of these practices except term tree crop with forest farming, it takes months or years for the systems an annual agricultural to develop fully. Forest farming, however, is likely to crop and/or livestock yield some marketable products within a year or two. tends to make the entire farm more sustainable, both from increasing discussed in greater detail in the other sections of crop diversity, and from thisThe series.five agroforestry There will alsotechniques be a series or practices of more detailed will be protecting the soil and water. following, however, are brief descriptions of all the agroforestrypublications on options. specific options for forest farming. The Temperate agroforestry - Alley cropping: Planting single or double rows of a tree ly accepted practices: crop (timber, fruit, Christmas trees, etc.), leaving an alleyinvolves cropping, five common riparian buffer strips, silvopas- to use your harvesting equipment for whatever crop ture, windbreaks, and you“alley” plan of tosufficient grow between space between the trees. the The rows crop to begrown able forest farming. Although in the alleys can be harvested annually while the trees are growing.

the first four practices

Agriculture and Natural Resources • Family and Consumer Sciences • 4-H Youth Development • Community and Leadership Development EXTENSION Riparian buffer strips: Establishing a living barrier riparian buffer strips and windbreaks) that can pro- between sizable moving waters (streams and rivers) duce marketable products in the short term. Woody and agricultural or livestock fields, filtering runoff plantingsflorals, shrubs designed that arefor grownprotective for their purposes. unusual Curly shape or plantedfrom the infields bands into withthe water trees and beside protecting the water the fields and corkscrewor color for thewillow florists’ and trade,red osier could dogwood be included or inother the from flooding, using native trees, shrubs and grasses shrubs with red or yellow stems can be harvested on : Planting rows or clusters of a tree crop an annual or every-other-year basis and are marketed grassesSilvopasture beside the fields. into areas where livestock are pastured. This practice by the individual stem. Such plant material choices can provides two annual crops (forage and livestock) as improve the economic value of any of these systems. well as the eventual long term tree crop. Livestock Agroforestry practices are advantageous to the - landowner both economically and ecologically and break effect of the trees. should be seriously considered by any landowner who health and growth benefit from the shade and wind is interested in managing his or her land in a more Windbreaks: Planting multiple rows of trees and shrubs, both coniferous and broadleaved, to protect sustainable way. crops or livestock from damaging effects of prevail- ing winds. Forest farming: Managing existing forests to provide the appropriate spacing and shade for various non- Agroforestry in Kentucky timber forest products (bee products, mushrooms, Alley Cropping (FOR-111) Riparian Buffer Strips (FOR-112) fruits and nuts, maple syrup, etc.). Silvopasture (FOR-113) medicinal plants, forest floor flowering plants, native Although forest farming is entirely about developing Windbreaks (FOR-114) marketable products from what may already be grow- Forest Farming (FOR-115) ing in your forest, a landowner could also include trees http://dept.ca.uky.edu/agc/pub-dept.asp?dept=Forestry (fruits or nuts) or shrubs in other practices (especially

Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, M. Scott Smith, Director, Land Grant Programs, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Lexington, and Kentucky State University, Frankfort. Copyright © 2009 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for edu- cational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Publications are also available on the World Wide Web at www.ca.uky.edu.

Issued 8-2009