Agroforestry Training for Professionals in Missouri and the Midwest

Agroforestry Training for Professionals in Missouri and the Midwest

Summary

Three SARE supported agroforestry trainings were conducted in 2008:
1) “Agroforestry Practices for Iowa: Enhancing resource professional’s knowledge of agroforestry”, held on June 26th, 2008, Fairfield, IA drew 29 landowners and natural resource professionals.
2) The “Agroforestry Workshop”, held on November 7th, 2008, Hardin, IL drew 29 landowners and natural resource professionals.
3) An Agroforestry Workshop: “Reducing energy use and controlling odor”, held on December 2nd, 2008, Neosho, MO drew 7 landowners and natural resource professionals. Surveys before/after events provided feedback as to knowledge gain and workshop effectiveness. The organization and content of all workshops were rated as either excellent or good.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Objectives/Performance Targets
Activities
• Stage 1 -Multi-agency training
• Stage 2 -Landowner workshops
• Case study
• Field days
• Developing agroforestry networks
• Agroforestry design experience

Outcomes
The overriding outcomes of the proposed stage 1-2 trainings delivered to diverse agencies and organizations will be evidenced in greater partnering across agencies, broadened agroforestry knowledge base among resource professionals, and increased benefits to farms through adoption of agroforestry and other integrated land management practices.

Short-Term Outcomes:

Knowledge about agroforestry and communication within and between core agencies and organizations will be strengthened. The number people key individuals within each of the core groups with a working knowledge of agroforestry practices will be increased. Further, as a result of the farm tour and case study activities, participants will be given the opportunity to interact across agency and organizational boundaries that may exist, and thereby create or enhance networks.

A quantitative outcome of Stage 2 trainings will be the number of landowners attending regional agroforestry workshops. A secondary outcome will be the direct benefits to the existing UMCA Technology Transfer Model as measured by the increase in regional on-farm implementation of agroforestry practices. The existing UMCA Technology Transfer Model emphasizes the merit of field days/workshops that use University of Missouri Farms and Centers to highlight current scientific research in conjunction with visits to farms where landowners are practicing agroforestry. This delivers both science and experiential knowledge to landowners attending workshops and enhances the learning opportunity for educators. Outcomes from Stage 3 activities will strengthen our existing Technology Transfer Model.

Short-term outcomes achievable within the 3-year span of this Program are:
1) an increase in the knowledge of agroforestry practices and their benefits to sustainable farming by core participants and their perspective agencies or organizations;
2) enhanced networking and partnering between core participants working with farmers;
3) a greater utilization and adoption of agroforestry practices to enhance sustainable farming by using interactions between farm resources to the benefit of farm operations.
Intermediate Outcomes:

Policy changes within agencies and organizations will reflect knowledge gained and an appreciation for the benefits of agroforestry practices applied to the farm. This will result in greater cooperation and collaboration between agencies, organizations, and natural resource disciples when recommending agroforestry and other sustainable forest and farm management practices. As agroforestry practices increase in number and mature there will be a diversification of products produced and marketed from farms.
Long-Term Outcomes:

Increased landowner adoption of agroforestry practices will result in a greater diversification on farm landscapes, enhanced farm sustainability through product diversification and enhanced stewardship of farm resources. In 2013, five years after the end of the agroforestry PDP trainings, the number of trained professionals and landowners practicing agroforestry will be reassessed. This will include a description of the types of agroforestry practices that are being adopted, where, and why. It will also revisit barriers and constraints to wider implementation by core groups and landowners. An updated Directory of Agroforestry Professionals and Landowners in Missouri will be compiled and published.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Stage 1: Completed
One training session for a core group of 50 to 100 professionals from approximately 6 different agencies (MU-Extension, MDNR. MDC, MDA, NRCS, RC&D). Release and distribution of updated Agroforestry Training Manual and agroforestry DVD. Establishment of regional agroforestry teams in partnership with UMCA.

In preparation for all SARE PDP trainings, a newly revised agroforestry training manual was completed:
Gold, M.A., W.D. Walter, L.D. Godsey, R.L. McCoy, H.E. Garrett, R.A Pierce, B. White, J. Robinson, R.C. Schultz. 2006. Training Manual for Applied Agroforestry Practices. University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. 425 pp. http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/pubs/training/index.asp

Stage 2: Ongoing

Note: Selected portions of the agroforestry training manual, launched in January, 2006, were used in all 2008 training activities.

Agroforestry Practices for Iowa: Enhancing Resource Professional’s Knowledge of Agroforestry”, Fairfield, IA.
June 26th, 2008

The training was jointly organized by Pathfinders RC&D, Iowa State University and the MU Center for Agroforestry. Pathfinders RC&D was responsible for advertising and registration.
Topics included: Planning for Agroforestry; Riparian Buffer Design and Application; Agroforestry for Wildlife; Windbreak design and Application– Farmstead, Field and Odor Breaks; a local foods lunch with a very enlightening lunch presentation by Dr. Francis Thicke, owner and operator of owner/operator of Radiance Dairy – Organic Dairy Farm; Silvopasture Concepts for Managing Trees, Forage, and Livestock; Marketing; Agroforestry and Adoption – in Context; and a panel question and answer session. Twenty nine landowners and natural resource professionals attended. (A flyer created for this workshop is included in the appendix to this annual report).

Workshop Evaluation Report Summary

The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (UMCA) developed a set of surveys to evaluate the results of the Agroforestry Practices for Iowa Workshop held in Fairfield, Iowa on June 26, 2008.
The objective of this workshop was to increase the knowledge about agroforestry practices and their benefits to sustainable farming of key individuals within core agencies and organizations such as natural resource professionals and educators, members of government agencies, and members of professional and non-profit organizations working with land management issues. A second objective was to foster the establishment of “social networks” so that both resource professionals and landowners know where to turn to for answers regarding agroforestry.

The workshop is part of the UMCA’s commitment to increase the knowledge and adoption of agroforestry practices across Missouri and the Midwest. The workshop included comprehensive presentations on the latest science in support of agroforestry practices, agroforestry adoption, benefits of agroforestry practices for wildlife and information intended to assist landowners marketing the products they grow.
At the beginning of the workshop, a survey was administered to all twenty nine participants to assess their motivation to participate in this event and the existing level of knowledge before being exposed to the workshop presentations. At the end of the workshop, a second survey was administered to assess the participants’ perception about the event, to determine the level of satisfaction with the content and organization of the workshop, the gain in knowledge after listening to the presentations, and to get suggestions for future programming of similar events.

The surveys were designed to collect information that will guide and improve future efforts in the area of family farm development through agroforestry. The results of the survey will be used to design new programs that will provide training, guidance and support for natural resource professionals and individuals interested in developing agroforestry related businesses. (Full survey details are included as an appendix to this annual report).

The surveys had the following objectives:
1. Document the demographic characteristics of the participants at the Agroforestry Practices for Iowa Workshop.
2. Identify how participants learned about the Agroforestry Training Workshop.
3. Identify the participants’ motivation to attend the workshop.
4. Assess the level of knowledge before the workshop related to specific topics and compare it with the level of knowledge after the workshop.
5. Evaluate the general perception of participants about the content and organization of the conference.
6. Identify participants’ perceived benefits gained from the workshop.
7. Obtain suggestions that will help better organize similar events.
8. Obtain participants’ input related to the implementation of agroforestry practices.

The most important conclusions from the training were:
•Most participants learned about the workshop from their agency (60%).
•All presented topics were of interest to participants (52% of participants indicated that the workshop topics strongly influenced their participation; 40% indicated that personal interest strongly influenced their participation).
•Participants came to the workshop with some knowledge about agroforestry practices (more about riparian forest buffers and windbreaks and less about silvopasture, marketing and agroforestry adoption). The highest gain in knowledge was obtained for the talks about silvopasture, marketing and agroforestry adoption. However, a significant gain in knowledge was obtained for all topics presented.
•Participants were very satisfied about the organization and content of the workshop (60% rated the workshop as “excellent” and 40% “good”).
•Resource materials, information about agroforestry practices, motivation to continue learning about agroforestry, information about the importance and benefit of implementing agroforestry and motivation to disseminate information about agroforestry practices were the most mentioned benefits of this workshop.
•According to workshop participants, demonstrate successful application of agroforestry practices, training, financial assistance, information about markets and economic benefits and finding champions in agroforestry implementation are ways to increase landowners’ awareness, acceptance and adoption of agroforestry.
•Barriers standing in the way of landowners’ awareness, acceptance and adoption of agroforestry mentioned were preconceived ideas, lack of resources, lack of communication, perceived advantages of planting commodities and perceived difficulties in implementing agroforestry practices.
•Increased training efforts, increased awareness, more financial and human resources allocated to agroforestry will increase participation in the effort of increasing landowners’ awareness, acceptance and adoption of agroforestry.
•Barriers that stand in the way of the natural resource professionals and their organizations becoming more active in promoting agroforestry are time, financial and human resources, lack of information and interest from the landowners’ side and head of agencies involvement.

Workshop benefits:
•The workshop strengthened communication among the core agencies and groups represented.
•There was a significant gain in knowledge that improved the understanding of the design and application of agroforestry practices.
•Participants’ perception of agroforestry was enhanced.

Recommended actions based on participant comments (post workshop) included:
*Find champions in agroforestry implementation (landowners who already have the practices established on their land) for every region. Use them as examples and real life case studies for the regional trainings.
*Continue with training and promotional efforts targeted to leaders of core agencies and organizations working with land management issues, professionals and landowners
*Disseminate information about the economical benefit of implementing agroforestry practices

Full details of the pre- and post-workshop survey results are were sumbitted to SARE via e-mail as attachments.

Agroforestry Workshop, Hardin, Illinois
November 7, 2008

The training was jointly organized by the Two Rivers RC&D, the Calhoun County Farm Bureau, Calhoun Country SWCD, McCully Heritage Project , University of Illinois Extension and the MU Center for Agroforestry. Two Rivers RC&D was responsible for advertising and registration.
Topics included: Introduction to Agroforestry; Biomass for Energy and Conservation; Silvopasture; an excellent lunch presentation on Specialty Crop Marketing by Paul Easley; Medicinal Herbs, Mushrooms; Nut Production; Open Discussion; Wrap Up and Networking. Twenty nine landowners and natural resource professionals attended. (A flyer created for this workshop is included in the appendix to this annual report).

Workshop Evaluation Report Summary

The workshop provided the basic knowledge and informational support for motivating natural resource professionals to get more involved in implementation of agroforestry practices in Illinois.

The most important conclusions were:
•The majority of participants were landowners.

•Most participants learned about the workshop from their local newspaper. McCully Heritage project, University of Illinois Extension, Two Rivers RC&D, Calhoon County Soil and Water and UMCA were the organizations that contributed to the recruitment of workshop participants.

•All topics on the program motivated people to participate. Topics of primary interest included: Introduction to agroforestry, Marketing specialty wood products and Biomass for energy production and conservation.

•Participants came to the workshop with some knowledge about agroforestry practices (more about biomass and specialty wood products and less about silvopasture and mushroom production). However, a significant gain in knowledge was obtained for all topics presented, especially for mushroom production, introduction to agroforestry and nut production.

•Participants were very satisfied about the organization and content of the workshop (68% rated the workshop “excellent” and 32% “good”).

•Top workshop benefits were: practical information about agroforestry practices, motivation to continue learning about agroforestry, and motivation to implement the topics discussed.

•According to workshop participants, educational programs and involvement of local government groups are ways to increase landowners’ awareness, acceptance and adoption of agroforestry.

•Barriers to landowner awareness, acceptance and adoption of agroforestry mentioned were: landowner perceptions, lack of knowledge and information, perceived advantages of planting commodities and agricultural policy.

•More detail presented for each topic and specific how to info would help landowners to move forward in implementing agroforestry practices.

Workshop benefits:
•The workshop strengthened communication among landowners and the core agencies and groups represented.

•There was a significant gain in knowledge that improved the understanding of the design and application of agroforestry practices.

•Participants’ perception of agroforestry was enhanced.

Windbreaks: reducing energy use and helping control odor. Neosho, Missouri.
December 2, 2008

The training was jointly organized by the Southwest Missouri RC&D and the MU Center for Agroforestry. Southwest Missouri RC&D was responsible for advertising and registration.
Topics included: Windbreak design and function to reduce energy use and impact odor; Choosing the right trees, site prep and planting techniques; Identifying the cause of odor and methods of control; a lunch presentation by Skip Mourglia on USDA programs supporting windbreaks; Irrigation design for optimal tree growth. Seven landowners and natural resource professionals attended.

Workshop Evaluation Report Summary

The objective of this workshop was to provide information to landowners on the use of windbreaks to help reduce energy and to help control odor from livestock operations. The workshop included presentations on the latest research about odor control and windbreak benefits and design.

While lightly attended, the workshop provided basic knowledge and informational support for motivating landowners to get more involved in implementation of specific agroforestry practices.

The most important conclusions were:
•All presented topics were of interest to participants. Identifying the cause of odor and optional method of controlling odor was the topic with the highest interest (57% of participants were very interested in this topic).

•A significant gain in knowledge was registered for all topics presented.

•The workshop overall was rated excellent by 83% of participants.

•The majority of participants considered that the organization of the workshop was excellent, that the content was very useful and that presenters created a very stimulating interest in topics.

•Participants considered the workshop a great event and recommended a follow-up workshop be organized.

What work is left to do?

In 2009 we plan to co-host one regional agroforestry training in Wisconsin. Finally, we will publish an updated Directory of Agroforestry Professionals and Landowners in Missouri (not completed) in 2009. Additional trainings are likely to be scheduled based on our continual contacts with landowners and natural resource professionals around the state and NC region.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The SARE PDP agroforestry trainings are having a direct impact on both research and future training activities at the Center for Agroforestry, in the State of Missouri and in bordering states. Building on training activities described in the 2007 Annual Report the following impacts and outcomes are noted:

1) Within the Missouri NRCS, momentum continues to build using EQIP cost share dollars to support windbreak establishment as a direct follow up to NCR-SARE funded July 2006 workshop. This is an issue of major concern in Missouri and surrounding states and is drawing considerable interest at all levels, from landowners to natural resource professionals to state and federal agencies. At the April 10, 2008, NRCS Missouri State Technical Committee Meeting, Columbia, MO, Dwaine Gelnar, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs and Operations, indicated that 2007 EQIP had three special emphasis areas. Special attention was given to Windbreaks, Forestry and Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP’s).
Mr. Gelnar also stated that $1 million was set aside to fund Missouri’s Windbreak sign up. All 120 applications were offered funding totaling more than $407,000.00 and 27 miles of windbreak/shelterbelts will be established in Missouri due to this effort.

2) Leveraging the NCR-SARE agroforestry Missouri Exchange Workshop (Columbia, MO., July 19, 2007), which was created to support the local food movement and niche crop markets in Missouri, the Missouri Exchange website (www.missouriexchange.com) continued to grow and develop. In 2008, statistics for the Missouri Exchange site have recorded between 700 and 2,000 unique visitors per month, continued increases over 2007. The site’s exposure is broad, continuing to attract visitors from all over the world. The web site launched at the end of January 2007. By the end of 2008, there were 512 members (vs. 307 in 2007) and 154 directory listings (vs. 108 in 2007) with membership continuing to increase. New features were added to Missouri Exchange in 2008 including a member directory map, “Tip of the week” and “Did you know?” informational items

3) During 2008, additional regional agroforestry workshop spinoffs took place including one training in Illinois (February 7th, 2008 Putting Small Acreages to Work Quincy, IL) and two trainings in Minnesota (March 20th, 2008 Agroforestry Training-Workshop for Natural Resource Professionals Willmar, MN.; June 5th, 2008 Agroforestry Training/Workshop in Lanesboro, MN). Copies of the Agroforestry Training Manual CD were distributed to all participants at both trainings. Further, at the request of NCR-SARE, a presentation was given at the National Small Farm Trade Show, November 8, 2008, Boone County, MO.

4) With the resources from an additional NCR-SARE RC&D Training Grant, and in joint collaboration with the Southwest Badger Wisconsin RC&D, Wisconsin, an agroforestry workshop is in the planning stages for March, 2009.

5) Building on the momentum and knowledge gain from both agroforestry research and training, the Center for Agroforestry will host the 11th North American Agroforestry Conference (NAAC) from May 31 – June 3, 2009. The theme of the conference is “Agroforestry Comes of Age: Putting Science into Practice”. We were able to secure a $2,000 SARE Outreach Education grant and have recruited two landowners practicing agroforestry to serve as keynote speakers during the conference plenary sessions. In addition, the $2,000 SARE Outreach Education grant is also supporting two additional landowners who will be the speakers during the conference “farmer show and tell” session. We have been fortunate enough to locate individuals who are good speakers, active and respected in the field of agroforestry, and who will represent different conference themes. In addition to conference presentations, SARE supported landowners will be featured in both the pre-, within-, and post-conference field tours which include Eridu Farms elderberry plantings, Shepherd Farms pecan/buffalo/eastern gama grass operation and the Ozark Forest Mushrooms operation. The $2,000 SARE Outreach Education grant has served a key role in strengthening the conference theme and setting the right tone for the conference (“Putting Science into Practice”) by putting landowners front and center in the 11th North American Agroforestry Conference.

Collaborators: