Project Overview
Information Products
Commodities
Practices
- Crop Production: agroforestry, alley cropping, cropping systems, nutrient management, pollinator habitat, silvopasture, windbreaks, Riparian Buffer
- Education and Training: demonstration, networking, on-farm/ranch research, workshop, Field Days
- Farm Business Management: apprentice/intern training, labor/employment
- Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, carbon sequestration, drift/runoff buffers, habitat enhancement, hedges - woody, riparian buffers, wildlife
- Pest Management: mulching - plastic, precision herbicide use
- Production Systems: integrated crop and livestock systems, Agroforestry
- Sustainable Communities: partnerships
Abstract:
Agroforestry, the integration of trees with crops or livestock, is a transformative solution to the ecological and economic issues of agriculture. A major hurdle to agroforestry adoption in the Midwest is the inadequate demonstration on a scale comparable to typical row-crop farms. Such demonstrations in Europe and Canada by universities and NGOs has greatly increased agroforestry adoption. From its inception, the Savanna Institute has worked with private, independent farms across the Midwest to demonstrate agroforestry. The effectiveness of this network has been limited by the fact that most farms are small, use inconsistent management, and often utilize only one of the many agroforestry practices.
To overcome these barriers and catalyze agroforestry adoption across the Midwest, the Institute launched a network of Institute-operated Agroforestry Research & Demonstration (R&D) Farms in 2019. In partnership with public and private landowners, these farms facilitate a broad range of decentralized education, demonstration, and research functions.
This project, “Establishing an Illinois Network of Agroforestry Research & Demonstration Farms” supported planning, establishment, and education at three R&D Farms in Illinois. At their core, each farm hosts commercial-scale demonstration plantings featuring a suite of agroforestry practices including multiple types of alley cropping, a multi-functional windbreak, edible riparian buffer, and cattle silvopasture. Adaptable and engaging educational signage and on-farm educational workshops provide multiple modes of engagement throughout the year. Direct oversight by the Institute ensures robust, science-based management and improves long-term economic and ecological monitoring beyond what is possible with a network of independent farms.
Since 2020, these agroforestry R&D Farms have served as invaluable education hubs for farmers, landowners, investors, policymakers, and the public. Increased familiarity with the profitability and ecological benefits of agroforestry has directly led to increased adoption of agroforestry, the launch of careers in agroforestry, deeper engagement with Savanna Institute partners including NRCS, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Univerity of Illinois, and increased advocacy and partnership building to support tree-based farming systems. Increased agroforestry adoption and awareness in the North-Central Region is leading to long-term work on farm profitability, ecological resilience, carbon storage, water quality, and rural job creation among Savanna Institute and its partners.
Project objectives:
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Availability of R&D Farms as an educational asset for sustainable agriculture educators throughout Illinois.
- Recognition of agroforestry's profitability and ecological benefits by farmers, landowners, agricultural professionals, investors, and policy-makers.
- Application of agroforestry and perennial agriculture knowledge by beginning farmers
ACTION OUTCOMES
- Conversion of engaged stakeholders to agroforestry advocates in their communities
- Adoption of agroforestry by site visitors and trainees
SYSTEM CHANGE OUTCOMES
- Widespread adoption of agroforestry practices, diffusing across the landscape from R&D Farms
- Enhanced farm profitability, ecological resilience, carbon storage, water quality, and job creation