Scaling Northeastern Agroforestry using a Farmer-centered Field Consultancy Model

Engagement:

Farms applications will made available in 2022 and distributed directly through Interlace Commons.

This project seeks to:

1. Engage and train nine farms to develop agroforestry land-use plans focused on alley cropping silvopasture and forest farming. This process will help the farms identify the alley cropping, silvopasture or forest farming benefits, risks, yields, and best practices for establishment and management, as well as enterprise planning;
2. Utilize land-use plans to implement the alley cropping, forest farming and silvopasture practices for educational and outreach purposes;
3. Share the project’s process and results with farmers, technical service providers, to reach a range of stakeholders with information about alley cropping forest farming and silvopasture and its adoption in the Northeast. This information will be helpful to stakeholders looking to enhance sustainability, address ecosystem degradation, increase profitability, and prepare for/respond to climate change and its impact on the future of farms, food, and the environment;
4. Identify funding opportunities to support farms in designing and implementing alley cropping systems. 

Education:

Farms receive training to identify the critical biophysical constraints and existing resource participating opportunities referred to as the site analysis. Farms use the narrative and site analysis and, with guidance, develop an agroforestry field design and enterprise plan. If successful, this project will catalyze the adoption of alley cropping, forest farming and silvopasture  MA, NH and VT as a transformative solution to agriculture’s environmental and economic challenges.  We predict in the short-term, there will be increased interest in and an improved understanding of the three aforementioned practices; in the mid-and long-term, there will be an uptick in alley-cropping adoption on farms in Massachusetts and surrounding states.

Objective 1 Methods: 

Use Interlace Commons’ existing Field Consultancy Program curriculum to guide the land-use planning process that includes: 

1. The creation of a farm narrative identifying challenges, goals, and opportunities, a statement of purpose, and description of farm enterprises; 
2. A site assessment identifying the biophysical and economic conditions of each farm. Biophysical conditions relate to soils, water and water quality, climate, and the farm’s geographic location (i.e., distance to markets which will influence what type of crops the farmer might grow). Economic conditions include markets, infrastructure, off-farm alternatives, availability of credit and labor, and willingness to take risks; and 
3. A field design, including a planting and implementation plan influenced by the farm narrative and site assessment documents. 

Objective 2 Methods:

Install the planting-plan(s) outlined in the land-use plan using labor supplied by the two farms:

1. Pattern the planting site by laying out the planting lanes;
2. Prepare land for tree planting by removing sod, tilling soil, and adding amendments; and
3. Plant trees and/or shrubs and field crops according to the planting plan at both sites that is in accordance with the land use plan that has been developed specific to each farm.

Objective 3 Methods: To maximize the impact of these nine farm sites, we will utilize various methods, providing multiple modes of engagement.

Phase 1: Documentation: 

1. Develop case studies for each farm, including the design and implementation process, an abbreviated land use plan, and resulting questions, successes, and challenges. The documentation will be available on the Interlace Commons, UMASS student farm, and Simple Gifts’ websites;
2. Create a visual depiction of the project using high resolution before and after drone images (to be included in the case studies

Phase 2: Dissemination: 

1. The farms will share their process, learning, and field design plans at a community presentation half way through the project. This helps build momentum, interest, and helps the farmers clarify their plans moving forward. 
2. Interlace Commons, and the participating farms in collaboration with the conservation planners will host a Field Day in September and October 2023.   These Field Days will be promoted via a postcard sent to farms, agricultural conservation organizations, and technical service providers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont as well as through Interlace Common’s and the farms’ social media networks and word of mouth. 

Evaluation:

Pre and post surveys will be used to evaluate the efficacy of the learned experience. Questions related to their broad understanding of the history of agroforestry related to the aforementioned practices, site analysis, implementation planning and enterprise planning will be outlined and assessed. Surveys will be delivered in the first quarter of 2022 and the fourth quarter of 2023.