Establishing a Silvopasture Site for Long-term Research, Education, and Livelihood

Commodities

• Additional Plants: native plants
• Animals: bovine, sheep

Practices

• Animal Production: animal protection and health
• Crop Production: silvopasture
• Natural Resources/Environment: habitat enhancement

As the climate becomes hotter,
dryer, and more variable, we face increasing heat stress on
livestock, less reliable growth of forage resources, and
ecosystem perturbations affecting a multitude of species. Animal
health and farm income are at risk with no quick solutions as
most ranches, following a history of tree and hedgerow removal to
enlarge fields, lack the vegetative structural diversity needed
for weather resilience. 

We propose silvopasture
development, i.e., the deliberate integration of trees into a
grazing system, using native plants to build vegetative
structure, improve livestock health, and support area
biodiversity. Our project will document installation techniques,
initial environmental, and biodiversity responses on a 10 acre
field in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. While the specific
plant species may be most relevant for inland valleys west of the
Cascades, many lessons should be broadly applicable. 

A silvopasture develops over
decades, yet many research questions can be asked at this phase
of the project. We are interested in the practice and cost of
establishment for native trees and shrubs, whether from cuttings
taken from nearby forests or purchased from nurseries. Our
experimental design allows for comparison of growth rates between
tree species. We expect early insight into crucial environmental
parameters, such as temperature differences between treatment and
control areas during heat waves, and changes in biodiversity
indicators in the soil, avifauna, and arthropod communities.
While trees take many years to reach full stature, by the end of
the study we may have at least one test of animal health impacts
by comparing groups of livestock kept in treatment vs control
environments (pending additional funding). 

We will conduct field days,
present at regional stakeholder meetings, publish in standard
outlets (e.g., Extension, NRCS), and use popular YouTube channels
and podcasts, to explain our project rationale and disseminate
our results.

1. Secure the establishment of the silvopasture using native
   trees and shrubs on a seasonally wet field. 
2. Install and learn to utilize fencing systems to protect new
   plantings. 
3. Collect baseline data on plant growth rates, soils, climate,
   and biodiversity.
4. Solidify collaboration with researchers and pursue additional
   funding.
5. Potentially get early trials on animal health in control vs
   treatment areas during a heatwave.
6. Take lessons learned and translate into updated guidelines
   through area stakeholders. 
7. Have well attended field days of interest to both livestock
   managers, farmland managers, and environmental professionals.
8. Produce outreach materials for talks and poster sessions at
   regional events.
9. Gain wider audience from outlets such as YouTube and podcast
   channels.