Project Lead: Erica Frenay, Connor Youngerman
Give Trees a Chance
Agroforestry describes a wide range of practices that integrate trees, forests, and agricultural production. These systems can be adapted to almost any site and condition, and can help farmers produce new revenue while buffering their operations from the challenges of climate extremes.
In response to increasing interest in agroforestry over the years, Cornell has created an extension program work team and a number of tools and resources to help farmers turn forested and marginal lands into productive contributors to farm revenue, produce multiple crops from the same piece of land in a symbiotic way, all while increasing biodiversity and improving soil health.
History of Agroforestry at Cornell
Cornell University faculty, Extension, and other staff have been leading agroforestry research and education efforts for 100 years!
Agroforestry Resources by Practice
Join our email list to hear about new resources as they’re added.
-
Air Pruned Raised Bed Basics
by Connor Youngerman and Sean Dembrosky Introduction Air prune raised beds (APRBs) are a built nursery container…
-
Silvopasture
Silvopasture is the thoughtful integration of trees, forage, and livestock in a managed system that provides shade…
-
Urban Food Forests (coming soon!)
Coming Soon!
-
Alley Cropping (Coming Soon!)
More details coming soon! Nut Production Resources: Key Contacts: Connor Youngerman czy2@cornell.edu
-
Windbreaks
Windbreaks are plantings of trees and/or shrubs that reduce wind speed in an agricultural area. First used…
Events
News and Updates
-
Small Farms Program Hosts Agroforestry Summit to “See the Farm for the Trees”
by
|
On a wintry January day, while the trees and landscape lay dormant, one meeting space on Cornell University’s campus in Ithaca, NY, was alive with vibrant activity. More than 100 committed and passionate advocates for “trees on farms on purpose” gathered on campus for a first of its kind agroforestry summit. The Cornell Small Farms…
-
Small Farms Radio Shines a Spotlight on the Power of Trees
by
|
If you’re selling 25 million trees, New York State is looking to buy. In 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul began an ambitious reforestation goal, aiming to plant 25 million new trees in the state before 2033. While the effort has been supported by policymakers, conservationists, researchers, and agriculturalists, a key issue remained — what kind of…
-
Small Farms Radio Shines a Spotlight on the Power of Trees
by
|
If you’re selling 25 million trees, New York State is looking to buy. In 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul began an ambitious reforestation goal, aiming to plant 25 million new trees in the state before 2033. While the effort has been supported by policymakers, conservationists, researchers, and agriculturalists, a key issue remained — what kind of…
-
Farm Field Day Attendees Treated to Lessons on Beef, Berries, and Donuts – Oh My!
by
|
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. Maria Chedzoy readied the fixings. On a warm Saturday afternoon in June, the Chedzoys’ front yard at Angus Glen Farm in Watkins Glen, New York…
-
More Than Maple: Cornell Research Designs Sugarbush Agroforestry Systems
by
|
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 challenges and extreme weather events, and offer unique products like maple-elderberry wine and maple-hazelnut spreads. Virtually all of the world’s maple syrup is produced in…
Collaborators
The Cornell Agroforestry Program Work Team (PWT) is co-chaired by:
- Graham Savio, gs695@cornell.edu, Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County
- Connor Youngerman, czy2@cornell.edu, Cornell Small Farms Program
- Tracey Testo, tet35@cornell.edu, Agroforestry Resource Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension Columbia-Greene
Subscribe for Updates and Opportunities
This list-serve provides information and resources to connect small and mid-sized farmers to larger markets such as food hubs, grocery stores, restaurants, online marketplaces and cooperatives. Farmers, educators and prospective buyers are all welcome:
