Specialty Forestry Products Professional Development

2001 Annual Report for ENC00-054

Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2000: $35,631.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2003
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $38,604.00
Region: North Central
State: Nebraska
Project Coordinator:
Susan Wirth
National Arbor Day Foundation

Specialty Forestry Products Professional Development

Summary

Specialty Forest Products PDP summary

Four educational brochures were produced focusing on the production and marketing of specialty forest products. They include:

-Edible Woody Landscapes for People and Wildlife
-Marketing Specialty Forest Products
-Hybrid Hazelnuts: An Agroforestry Opportunity
-Productive Conservation: Growing Specialty Forest Products in Agroforestry Plantings.

These four-page publications were developed in cooperation with partner organizations and reviewed by area farmers before printing. Partner organizations are distributing brochures.

A train-the-trainer workshop for natural resource and extension educators scheduled for September 2001 had to be postponed in the wake of terrorist attacks and has been rescheduled for May 23-24, 2002.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The objectives of the project are:
  • hold a train-the-trainer workshop to inform, educate and provide training tools and materials to natural resource people working with producers and landowners about sustainable agriculture practices focusing on specialty forest products.

    hold regional workshops and a field day to transfer information to producers, landowners and other natural resource professionals about specialty forest products.

    develop and provide educational brochures about specialty forest products to partner organizations for distribution to producers as well as conservation groups and other visitors to the Lied Conference Center and Arbor Day Farm.

    track implementation, by participants, of sustainable agriculture practices that focus on specialty forest products.

Accomplishments/Milestones

The grant allowed the creation of four interpretive brochures that explain a number of agroforestry practices and provide information on the production and marketing of specialty forest products. These brochures include:

* Edible Woody Landscapes for People and Wildlife – Whether available land is a city lot, a living snow fence, or the windbreak on a large farm, selecting the right trees and shrubs to plant can provide food for both wildlife and humans. The idea is to have decorative landscape plants do double duty, or more!

* Marketing Specialty Forest Products – This is the key to the success of Agroforestry. Suggestions include how to do direct marketing, finding a niche market, pricing and other essentials of selling what you produce.

* Hybrid Hazelnuts: An Agroforestry Opportunity – Sometimes called filberts, this nut-producing bush is singled out because of its high nutritional value, widespread demand, adaptability to site conditions, and its potential to provide a high value crop on erodible slopes.

* Productive Conservation: Growing Specialty Forest Products in Agroforestry Plantings – Planting the right trees and shrubs can be an important source of extra income. Woody decorative florals such as corkscrew willows or holly for Christmas and wood for handicrafts join edible plants in providing opportunities to bolster family income and improve economic conditions in rural areas.

These four-page publications were developed in cooperation with partner organizations. Producers (farmers) were involved in the brochure editing and review process prior to publication. 70,000 of each brochure was produced and distributed to partner organizations for dissemination of information to farmers and rural landowners.

A feature article in the January/February 2002 National Arbor Day Foundation’s bimonthly publication, Arbor Day, which reaches nearly one million members nationwide, spread the word about the newly created publications and the Specialty Forest Products Train the Trainer Workshop.

The Specialty Forest Products Train the Trainer Workshop was scheduled for September 18, 2001. The agenda was set and most all conference arrangements finalized. However, in the wake of the terrorist events of September 11, 2001 most of the key presenters and many of the participants were unable to attend. The conference was postponed and rescheduled for May 23-24, 2002. A grant extension was given until Dec. 31, 2002.

Following the May workshop and field day event, participants will host regional workshops to further disseminate information on specialty forest products. A survey, several months after the workshop and after data is collected from the regional workshops, will assess impact of the project.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Even though the conference had to be postponed, the four brochures have already generated interest with natural resource professionals and been widely distributed. Brochures are now regularly available to conservation groups and other interested visitors attending meetings at the National Arbor Day Foundation’s Arbor Day Farm – Lied Conference Center. Groups such as the Central Region Woodland Stewardship Conference and the Natural Resources Conservation Training Conference have been provided with copies of the brochures to take back to their various locations. Many people have expressed appreciation that this information, particularly the marketing information, is now available.

Collaborators:

Rich Straight

rstraight@fs.fed.us
Lead Agroforester
National Agroforestry Center
East Campus - Univ. of Nebr.
Lincoln, NE 68583-0822
Office Phone: 402437517824
Scott Josiah

sjosiah2@unl.edu
Extension Forester
Cooperative Extension - Univ. of Nebr.- Lincoln
107 Plant Industry
Lincoln, Ne 68583
Office Phone: 4024726511