Forestry & Agroforestry

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Farm Field Day Attendees Treated to Lessons on Beef, Berries, and Donuts – Oh My!

By Tim W. Shenk / September 30, 2025

By Tim W. Shenk Brett Chedzoy stood over a trailer outfitted with a layer of heat-resistant bricks, flipping beef burgers on a wire rack over a pile of smoldering coals.…

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Maple Syrup Tank

More Than Maple: Cornell Research Designs Sugarbush Agroforestry Systems

By Krisy Gashler / July 9, 2025

The Cornell Maple Program is growing 18 species of perennial fruit- and nut-bearing plants within a maple sugarbush forest. They want to help maple producers be more resilient to economic…

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trees orchard aerial

Earth Day: A Celebration and a Call to Action

By Connor Youngerman / April 21, 2024

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago; the second-best time to plant a tree is now. This idea captures the essence of Earth Day – both…

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agroforestry logo 1

Our Team Is Growing: Now Hiring Agroforestry Specialist

By Erica Frenay / September 18, 2023

The Cornell Small Farms Program team is continuing to grow, and we are hiring! We are excited to share that the application is now open for our newest team member,…

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agroforestry logo 1

Agroforestry Webinar Series to Discuss Stewardship, Support Resources, and More

By Steve Gabriel / April 6, 2022

Our Agroforestry project and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Agroforestry Program Work Team is again hosting a series of webinars this year, beginning in April. These webinars will feature expert speakers,…

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Brush saws can be used to clear subcanopy trees and shrubs.

Clearing a Woodland Understory

By Peter Smallidge / April 5, 2021

Question:  I was visiting a friend’s woodlot last fall. They had logged much of the ash due to Emerald Ash borer and expanded those openings into patches to allow for…

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Features of Trees 2

Features of Trees Useful for Identification

By Peter Smallidge / January 11, 2021

Learning to identify the trees on your property will help you enjoy and better manage your land.  Woodland owners who learn how to identify the trees and other vegetation on…

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maple tapping lines cornell photo

Study Measures Maple Syrup Production in a Changing Climate

By Anna Birn / October 8, 2019

A changing climate is expected to change the seasonality of crops, largely affecting farmers’ production patterns and yearly cycles. This impact on crops also includes maple syrup production, according to…

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downed tree

Managing Woodlands to Improve Wildlife Habitat

By Peter Smallidge / October 7, 2019

Manipulations of the trees can create new and varied habitats for wildlife. Most landowners own their land for a variety of reasons, though at any point in time one objective…

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oyster mushrooms

Specialty Mushroom Project Expands to Serve Diverse Urban and Rural Growers

By Steve Gabriel / October 7, 2019

Interest in specialty mushrooms (defined as any non-button variety) from both farmers and consumers is growing rapidly, with demand increasing by 4% annually in the U.S. Given the flexible scale…

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