Southeast Iowa Agroforestry Demonstration

Southeast Iowa Agroforestry Demonstration

Summary

This project will demonstrate the environmental benefits of agroforestry practices to landowners and the profitability of growing and selling local ecotype forb seed and medicinals to private entrepreneurs. In addition, the project will protect irreplaceable local ecotype species through propagation and by educating the public about their economic and environmental worth. Reluctantly, we must admit that the best way to protect our dwindling availability of local ecotypes may be to prove to the public not only their environmental importance, but their economic importance as well.

Objectives:
1) To show landowners the environmental benefits of agroforestry and encourage them to convert marginal cropland to more environmentally beneficial land uses,
2) To demonstrate to private entrepreneurs the economic potential of growing, harvesting and selling local ecotype forbs and medicinals,
3) To preserve through propagation irreplaceable local ecotype forbs and medicinals.

Narrow seedbeds of local ecotype forbs and medicinals will be established between existing rows of trees. Our initial priority will be to establish and propagate the seedbeds. After establishment, our second priority will be to make seed available for off-site uses.

The project collaborators intend to treat this experience as a for-profit entity, keeping records of all expenses, sales, and profits. This data will make up a large part of our outreach program and will be used to promote such practices to entrepreneurs in the private sector hoping that they might work with landowners to establish such sites on private land. Besides the obvious soil conservation benefits, we hope to further advance the perceived importance of biodiversity and local ecotype species to a wider audience.

Results from the project will be distributed three ways. First, we will host two highly publicized field days as well as to provide, upon request, tours of the site for all interested parties. Secondly, we will develop a brochure, which includes details of our on-going demonstration. Finally, we will produce a 2-4 page fact sheet at the end of the second year. This will include details as to our progress as well as our economic estimates. The fact sheet will be our primary outreach effort to convince others of the validity of our demonstration. The fact sheet will be sent to area USDA Service Centers, Extension Offices, nurseries, Forestry providers, and small business development centers (and any other business oriented entities which cater to entrepreneurs).

Collaborators: