Increasing Small Farm Profits with American Chestnut Production and Silvopasture

Increasing Small Farm Profits with American Chestnut Production and Silvopasture

Summary

Chestnut blight effectively ended the widespread use of chestnuts as a food crop, but recent evidence indicates that trees do survive long enough to produce nuts. American chestnuts currently sell for more than oriental ones, in part due to scarcity, in part because of their appeal as a native food. The farmer will establish chestnut trees in pasture land and see if the nuts will offer a viable fall crop; sheep will be grazed on the grassy strips, and nut production and sales will be monitored and the project will be publicized through articles, farm tours, and a web site.