SILVOPASTURE CASE STUDIES By Jared Luhman, SFA Soil Health Lead VOL. I 2 SILVOPASTURE CASE STUDIES Introduction production in Minnesota, a priority for Sustainable Development Partnership SFA. (SERSDP). The Silvopasture Case Studies are SFA and the partners above are These new case studies, and the made possible through a partnership working to create a Silvopasture previous series, are the basis of among the Center for Integrated Learning Network for education and FarmMaps.umn.edu, a tool allowing Natural Resources and Agricultural support; research effective farmers to learn about, connect with, Management (CINRAM) at the silvopasture practices and innovations and receive advice from fellow University of Minnesota, the University at the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge; and farmers with experience successfully of Minnesota Agricultural Extension, educate farmers, agricultural and applying soil health practices. The Great River Greening (GRG), and the natural resource professionals and ability to talk to a peer about benefits, Sustainable Farming Association of conservationists throughout the state successes, challenges and costs on Minnesota (SFA). Together, these on silvopasture and oak savanna issues related to silvopasture and soil groups are part of the project restoration principles and practices. health is a powerful motivator for “Silvopasture for Oak Savanna Researched and written by Jared adoption and provides a source of Restoration” funded by the Legislative- Luhman, SFA’s Soil Health Lead, these continued support. Citizen Commission case studies on Minnesota feature farmers Acknowledgments Resources (LCCMR). Web Resources throughout Silvopasture is Minnesota who Several people were involved in sfa-mn.org/silvopasture-agroforestry the intentional have been using preparing this report, starting with the practice of silvopasture.umn.edu/connect silvopasture farmers whose silvopasture stories are managing timber, practices for three featured herein: Vickie Kettlewell and forage and livestock on the same or more years and whose stories offer Greg Booth of Sunup Ranch, acres to create income opportunities tangible examples, support, and Brainerd; Tom Barthel and Gail on often under-utilized land. Using encouragement to others. The case Wilkinson of Snake River Farm, managed grazing techniques, sound studies reflect the partners’ Becker; Tom Hunter, Wabasha; and timber management and 21st-Century understanding that farmers learn best Tyler Carlson of Early Boots Farm, fencing technology, silvopasture can from each other and that strong Sauk Centre. SFA Executive Director help restore the over 660,000 acres connections across the landscape will Theresa Keaveny and CINRAM of Minnesota woods and forest, result in wider adoption of effective Director Dean Current were the including oak savanna, that are not silvopasture practices. They are supervisors for this publication. SFA achieving their full potential for the modeled after a series of two soil Soil Health Lead Jared Luhman is the landowner and society. Described on health case study publications made primary author and photographer; the next page in more detail, possible through the Southwest SFA Communications Associate Jason silvopasture and agroforestry are Regional Sustainable Development Walker is credited with layout and additional strategies to achieve soil Partnership (SWRSDP) and a third design. Special thanks to LCCMR for health adoption and foster livestock supported by the Southeast Regional financial support of this project. SILVOPASTURE CASE STUDIES 3 Background Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land. The trees, forage, and grazing livestock are managed intensively and must complement one another to increase overall production. The sales of livestock provide annual income to the producer while fostering long-term economic benefits from trees such as sawtimber. In silvopasture, management of trees through thinning and pruning helps provide high-value timber and ensures that sufficient light is Silvopastures are: Benefits available for forage. Grazing animals control competition for Intentional – The trees, • Diversify farm enterprise (e.g., moisture, nutrients, and sunlight, livestock, and forage together are livestock sales, timber sales, enhancing tree growth. Trees intentionally designed, established, hunting leases, etc.), and provide shade for livestock and and managed to work together spreads out market risk create a microclimate that and yield multiple products and • Provide high value timber improves forage quality. Livestock benefits. These are not individual resulting from pruning and promote nutrient cycling, and practices that occur coincidentally thinning to manage tree density nitrogen fixing forage crops together nor managed • Provide shade or cooler summer benefit trees. independently. environment for livestock Silvopasture can look similar to Intensive – Silvopastures are • Provide wind protection for oak savanna, with acres of dense managed intensively to optimize livestock during severe winters grass interspersed with tall oak production. Cultural practices such • Reduce animal stress and trees providing shade for livestock as thinning and pruning are often improve animal productivity and shelter for wildlife; it can also employed on the trees, while • Improve soil health and nutrient resemble a diverse forest being fertilization is done on forage to cycling managed and intentionally thinned improve production. Livestock in • Enhance habitat for many to allow sunlight to the forest floor silvopastures are managed based wildlife species through plant to increase grass production for on forage availability. diversification and promoting livestock. Typically ruminants like Interactive – Livestock grazing, nutritious forages cattle, sheep and goats, or forage production, and tree • Enhance plant nutrient uptake possibly even hogs are integrated. management are conducted in efficiencies and water quality – In the case of Regeneration Farms harmony to enhance the deep tree roots capture nutrients (Pages 4-5), it’s poultry. production of multiple harvestable from deeper soil horizon Silvopasture is not a ‘plant it components, while providing • Increase recreation opportunities and leave it’ system. Allowing conservation benefits. • Control weeds and invasive livestock to graze in a natural Integrated – The trees, forage, species due to browsing of woodland area without active and livestock are structurally and animals, and development of livestock/forage management is functionally combined into a desirable ground cover NOT considered silvopasture, nor single, integrated management • Reduce wildfire severity due to is having one or two trees in the unit tailored to meet the reduction of forest and ladder pasture considered silvopasure. landowner’s objectives. fuel 4 SILVOPASTURE CASE STUDIES Regeneration Farms Contact: Tony Wells, Co-Founder, General Manager | [email protected] Sources of Income: Chicken, hazelnuts | Acres: 1.5 or more Background developed the Tree-Range® A New System Chicken brand, using an Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin innovative production system that This team of innovators thought wanted to develop a system of integrates food producing beyond standard ways of thinking food production that was not only perennial nut and fruit trees with about silvopasture and followed sustainable but regenerative in pasture, natural forages to achieve the principles of integrating trees, every sense of the word. He “truly” free-range poultry. This forage and grazing livestock with wanted it to be regenerative to the regenerative poultry production chickens and hazelnuts. Poultry soil, regenerative to the livestock system offers a premium market to actually evolved out of a jungle and plants under management, allow easier entry for new farmers habitat, so the system mimics regenerative to managers of the by providing reasonable economic nature in that way. Their goal was farm, and lastly he wanted this returns with minimal upfront to create a production unit that is system to be regenerative to a investments, (compared with what replicable by other farmers on population of people who had is normal in farming). Over the small acreages. One production historically been unable to farm. past 3 years, this regenerative unit consists of a chicken coop and With a lifetime of farming poultry production system has 1.5 acres split into two .75 acre knowledge and a team of great been replicated on 3 small farms paddocks that have perennial tree partners, Regi, Jim Kleinschmit, and 5-10 new farmers are now species planted on 12 to 14 foot Tony Wells, Wil Crombie along developing Tree-Range® row spacing with 6 to 8 feet with huge support from many production plans on their farms for between trees. This system is family, friends and mentors, have 2021 and beyond. designed to produce batches of SILVOPASTURE CASE STUDIES 5 1,500 chickens which have the ability to handle rotate between the two and thrive through all the paddocks. Also, by fertility left from the strategically placing the chickens. Additionally, in feeders in different areas 5-7 years when the they are able to alter hazelnuts grow and are which areas within the at full production, they paddock are receiving will produce 30-50 animal impact. This is percent of the total farm important for soil health revenue. as soil and plants need adequate time for rest Adaptable and recovery between animal impact. Broiler chickens and hazelnuts are a