Final report for ENC21-204
Project Information
The Professional Development Program: Silvopasture Economics, sponsored by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (SFA), is an education and professional development program targetting 50 forestry and agricultural professionals, farmers and landowners to learn the economics of silvopasture, its costs and benefits, a critical information need that must be addressed to assure silvopasture adoption. It is Phase II of the PDP Program: Silvopasture Adoption (Project # ENC 19-178) which equiped over 200 participants to educate and support farmers and landowners to adopt silvopasture practices to supplement farm income and restore unmanaged forests. Working with researchers and silvopasture professionals, Phase I trained 50 professionals in 3 regions (north, central, southern) and has generated a wealth of informational products focused on nearly 640,000 acres of unmanaged wooded pasture in Minnesota that are an untapped soil health and agricultural resource.
Phase II builds on Phase I by generating much requested economic information about the wide and variable range of input costs and economic benefits of silvopasture, generating fact sheets, an economic calculator tool, case studies and pod casts. This will be shared with the 50+ ag professionalsin Phase I, another 50 professionals who will receive extra training so they in turn hold 1 silvopasture learning event in north, central and southern Minnesota, farmers and ~500 in the "Silvopasture Learning Network", formed by UMN Extension and SFA. Farmers practicing silvopasture or beginning their journey will be recruited. Information will be shared with Green Lands Blue Waters, SWCD Forestry Association, Foreage Councils and Learning Network.
Education Materials: Outputs include at least 1 economic fact sheet or publication, 1 assessment tool for use by farmers or landowners, 2 podcasts on economics (one per year), case studies (5) in year 2, reprint of materials from Phase I of the project as needed, since those materials will be depleted by mid 2022.
Number of participants: Total is 50 professionals trained + 1,120 attendees at workshops, field days, other groups' events.
- 50 Professionals who are trained as a result of this project and who receive a scholarship to pay for 1 workshop and/or 1 field day registration.
- An estimated 75 attendees at Soil Health Summit silvopasture session in 2022 and another 50 in 2023 -- total of 125 (this may overlap with the number of
- 400 number of people on Silvopasture Learning Network who will receive SFA economic materials and assessment tool.
- 320 number of people on SFA Silvopasture cohort who will receive SFA economi materials and assessment tool.
- ~ 25 people per workshop 2 and 3 in Year 1 + same in Year 2 (50)
- ~ 25 people per field day 1, 2 and 3 in Year 1 + same in Year 2 (75)
- 100 people who attend SFA's table and or presentation at one of the following: Green Lands Blue Waters, MN Assocition of Soil Water Conservation Districts, Soil Water Conservation Districts Agroforestry Association.
Number of partnerships:
- University of MN CINRAM (already strong)
- Green Lands Blue Waters (already strong)
- UMN Extension (already strong)
- MN Assocition of Soil Water Conservation Districts (exists, needs strengthening)
- Soil Water Conservation Districts Agroforestry Association (new)
Cooperators
- - Technical Advisor
Education
SFA's approach to educating farmers and ranchers on the economics of Silvopasture started with the Phase I basics - "What is Silvopasture" and involved producing comprehensive educational tools, including fact sheets, case studies, webinars and two Dirt Rich podcast episodes, all accessible from the https://sfa-mn.org/agroforestry-silvopasture/page of the SFA website. In collaboration with our partners at UMN Extension, we built out a 400 member Silvopasture Learning Network, an email list of farmers, ranchers and ag professionals interested in being part of a Silvopasture affinity group. We coordinated with project partners to create multiple field days and other on-farm demonstration opportunities showcasing the ecological and economic benefits of Silvopasture.
Phase II built on Phase I by generating much requested economic information about the wide and variable range of input costs and economic benefits of Silvopasture. Focus was on creating an effective online cost calculator to help farmers and ranchers determine the input costs they would incur to adopt Silvopasture on their land. Once the tool was developed we began field testing it by asking farmers and ranchers to use the tool and provide the project team with feedback to improve its utility. Improvements were incorporated as feedback was received. During Phase II SFA also participated in several "Fridays with a Forester" webinars and regional field days during which how to use the Silvopasture Decision-making Tool, was demonstrated.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
To offer farmers real world examples of five Minnesota farms that have adopted Silvopasture and Agroforstry practices in their operations.
A compendium of five case studies featuring farmers who practice silvopasture and agroforestry. Researched and written by Jared Luhman, SFA's Soil Health Lead, these case studies feature farmers throughout Minnesota who have been using silvopasture practices for three or more years and whose stories offer tangible examples, support, and encouragement to others.
To motivate farmers who are considering silvopasture and agroforestry by providing real world success stories.
Silvopasture education for those who prefer a streaming format for learning.
Silvopasture in the Midwest
Digging Deeper into Silvopasture
Presenters discuss practically how to get started implementing Silvopasture on your farm, including planning design considerations, using EQIP, cost-share programs, and other funding opportunities.
Silvopasture: A Global and Historical Perspective
Minnesota Silvopasture Resources
Farmmaps & Silvopasture Case Studies Release (Youtube)
FarmMaps is a tool developed by the Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agriculture Management (CINRAM) designed to encourage farmers interested in adopting Silvopasture practices to learn from and connect with farmers in their region who have successfully adopted those practices on their farms. Case studies and photos highlight farmers around Minnesota who are implementing innovative practices and provides contact info for connecting with them to learn more.
Adaptive Grazing & Silvopasture
Economics of Silvopasture
Take a deeper dive into the costs of silvopasture establishment and the economics of silvopasture production systems. The presenters share findings from research conducted throughout the United States.
Deepen knowledge of and appreciation for the practice of Silvopature, its global history, available resources.
To provoke thought about livestock management, sustainability an health.
Two SFA staffers tackle the tough question: “Should we eat meat?” and discuss how properly managed livestock can actually address issues of sustainability and health in agriculture.
To increase understanding of the broader social and ethical impacts of silvopasture practices.
To provide an accessible deeper dive into Silvopasture topics for those farmers and ag professionals.
These professionally produced fact sheets provide interested farmers and ag professionals with useful and current information that is easily accessible and sharable. Titles include: Pastured Pork - Why Consider Pigs?; The How-tos of Silvopasture; and Silvopasture in Minnesota.
The Silvopasture Handbook is a compendium of web-based resources, professionals, universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and other sources of silvopasture information, training and networking.
This resource manual is designed to assist land managers and technical support staff on designing and implementing a Silvopasture system in woodlands. This is a starting place for you to quickly and easily connect with information and people to improve your understanding and implementation of Silvopasture.
To increase awareness and understanding of the practice of Silvopasture and its benefits.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Establishment of the Silvopasture Learning Network email group, a knowledge sharing network comprised of more than 300 educators, researchers, farmers and landowners and ag agency reps. As the grant wound down, the network was converted into a Facebook Group, which can be found here: Silvopasture Learning Network