Project Lead: Steve Gabriel, Tracey Testo
Agroforestry @ Cornell
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, though considerations like climate, slope, soil characteristics, and grower goals will ultimately determine the crops that are appropriate for a specific piece of land.
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 woodlot owners start farming their forests. Each category below has videos, guides, and websites to help, along with the contact information of key individuals in the Cornell community you can reach out to get more information.
Join our email list for periodic updates from the Agroforestry team!
Several of the agroforestry team were recently featured in the Maple Programs podcast "Sweet Talk". Listen to learn more and find all the episodes at https://anchor.fm/maple-program
Agroforestry and Climate Change
As the climate continues to shift, agroforestry is increasingly seen as a critical solution for farms and forested landscapes both in adapting to changes as well as mitigating impacts that further negative effects on our climate. The USDA Forest Service has published a report: Agroforestry: Enhancing Resiliency in U.S. Agricultural Landscapes Under Changing Conditions based upon a national scientific assessment of agroforestry. With contributions from more than 50 experts from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, this report presents the first-ever synthesis on agroforestry as a mechanism for improving the resiliency of agricultural lands under climate change.
ACCESS THE FULL REPORT HERE: https://www.aftaweb.org/138-2018-vol-24/volume-24-no-2-august-2018/238-title-assessing-agroforestry-s-role-in-mitigating-and-adapting-to-climate-change.html
NORTHEAST REGIONAL SUMMARY: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/55738
Agroforestry is rooted in Indigenous Knowledge
While the word "agroforestry" was coined in the 1970s, many of the practices and knowledge has long been practiced around the world. While both indigenous and non-indigenous practitioners have developed agroforestry systems, often the focus is on more recent work and indigenous contributions are overlooked. Cultural sensitivity and recognition of these deep roots is important to understanding the long-term perspective needed to successfully implement agroforestry across landscapes. Some resources for further reading:
US Forest Service Agroforestry Notes: Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Agroforestry
https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/assets/documents/agroforestrynotes/an44g14.pdf
Some Ecological Aspects of Northeastern American Indian Agroforestry Practices
http://www.daviesand.com/Papers/Tree_Crops/Indian_Agroforestry/
2021 Webinar Series
Join us live for our FREE bimonthly webinar series where we share the latest research and resources on a variety of topics.
See the full press release and descriptions here.
March 31 - Sourcing Logs for Mushrooms - VIEW RECORDING
June 9th - Silvopasture Systems in New York and Capturing Carbon - VIEW RECORDING
July 21st - Growing Ginseng with Success - VIEW RECORDING
September 16 - Nut Production in New York: Past, Present, Future - VIEW RECORDING
November 17 - Maple Program Research Update
SIGN UP HERE FOR A FREE WEBINAR LINK TO THESE EVENTS: https://forms.gle/nV3jjxpUorC86Bm98
Link to the playlist of all previous Agroforestry webinar recordings
Each webinar will be recorded and posted to the Cornell Agroforestry website (here) as well as the Cornell Small Farms YouTube channel.
Click on a button below to learn more:
Woodland Mushrooms
Woodland Mushrooms can be grown in many forest conditions. Cornell has been researching these practices since the early 2000s.
Common species produced include Shiitake, Oyster, Lions Mane, Stropharia, and Nameko. Our program is a nationwide leader in providing guidebooks, factsheets, and videos to help you get started.
Visit www.CornellMushrooms.org for factsheets and videos describing in detail how to grow and market forest mushrooms, and connect with other growers.
Key Contacts:
- Steve Gabriel. Extension Specialist, sfg53@cornell.edu
Maple Syrup
Globally, humans have tapped trees and enjoyed saps and syrups for centuries. While production in New York is heavily focused on maple Syrup production, new opportunities are growing for birch and walnut syrups and for sap beverages and other value-added products.
The Cornell Sugar Maple Program web site provides maple syrup production information for people with varied syrup knowledge, activities and information for students and teachers, and extension research project information.
Also check out SWEET TALK: All Things Maple, their new podcast!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sweet-talk-all-things-maple/id1546134868
Website
https://blogs.cornell.edu/cornellmaple
Key Contacts:
- Aaron Wightman, Extension Research, arw6@cornell.edu
- Adam Wild, Director of Uihlein Maple Center, adw94@cornell.edu
American Ginseng
Ginseng is a high-value crop that can be grown in the right type of forest and ample patience on the part of the grower.
Learn how through the series of videos above, and the downloadable guides from former Cornell Extension Educator Bob “Mr Ginseng” Beyfuss.
Resources:
- A Practical Guide to Growing Ginseng is a 25 page booklet that outlines all you need to know to get started.
- The Ginseng Visual Site Assessment helps landowners “score” their woods to see if its a good fit. Click the link for an online tool or DOWNLOAD PDF version.
- Getting Started Right for Successful Ginseng Production is a great article that outlines a process of trialing potential sites for production before committing.
Key Contacts:
Tracey Testo, Agroforestry Resource Center of Greene County, tet35@cornell.edu
Silvopasture
Silvopasture integrates livestock, trees, and forage and can be done in existing woodlots or by bringing trees into pasture settings. There are many variations and options for systems and the resources below offer some starting points.
Resources:
- Silvopasturing in the Northeast is a publication by Peter Smallidge and Brett Chedzoy that outlines the basic principles and approaches to the practice of silvopasture.
- Photo Guide to Northeastern United States Silvopasture by Joe Orifice offers a nice array of examples from active farms demonstrating the wide range of possibilities for silvopasture systems.
- Silvopasture: How to Integrate Pastured Animals, Forage Crops, and Trees in a Temperate Farm Ecosystem, book by Steve Gabriel
Key Contacts:
Brett Chedzoy, Extension Forester Cooperative Extension Schuyler County, bjc226@cornell.edu
Steve Gabriel, Cornell Small Farms Program, sfg53@cornell.edu
Nut Production
Resources:
- Nuts for Nuts: Seeding a Nut Industry in the Northeast (article in Small Farm Quarterly)
- Hazelnut Trees are Easy! (article in Small Farm Quarterly)
Key Contacts:
Sam Bosco, PhD student
Forestry
The Cornell Forestry Extension Program includes information for forest owners, educators, loggers, and foresters regarding how best to engage in sustainable production on private forest lands. http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/bmp/contents/cce.html.
Key Contacts:
Peter Smallidge, State Extension Forester, pjs23@cornell.edu
Research and Education Sites
The Cornell Agroforestry effort includes several sites for research and education.
Browse the map or click the links below to learn more.
Arnot Forest - Maple and Forestry Research Site in Newfield, NY
Uihlein Research Forest - Maple Research Site in Lake Placid, NY
Agroforestry Resource Center - Educational site and forest in Acra, NY
MacDaniels Nut Grove - old planting by former Cornell professor, site of classes and hands on events in Ithaca NY
Our Agroforestry Team
The Cornell Agroforestry PWT works to elevate the status of agroforestry and legitimize its application in New York by identifying current practices and creating resources to expand them.
CCE staff across the state are already engaged in this work but it is often extra-curricular. This PWT will identify funding and support to enable more dedicated staff time to agroforestry either through campus of by working collectively to identify and apply for grants.
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Gabriel, Steve sfg53@cornell.edu Cornell Small Farms Program co-chair Testo, Tracey * tet35@cornell.edu CCE Green County Agroforestry Center co-chair Bates, Jonathan foodforestfarm@gmail.com Food Forest Farm Bosco, Samantha sfb42@cornell.edu School of Integrated Plant Science Campbell-Nelson, Katie kc2233@cornell.edu Northeast SARE Chedzoy, Brett bjc226@cornell.edu CCE Schuyler County Clyne, Ailis abc237@cornell.edu Arnot Research Forest Maple Technician Ferrare, Kristina kaf226@cornell.edu CCE Onondaga County Gasiewicz, Donald drg35@cornell.edu CCE Wyoming County Helmholdt, Ashley Horticulture Section, SIPS MacFarland, Kate katherine.macfarland@usda.gov National Agroforestry Center Savio, Graham gs695@cornell.edu CCE Tompkins County Smallidge, Peter pjs23@cornell.edu Natural Resources Wightman, Aaron arw6@cornell.edu Cornell Maple Program Wild, Adam adw94@cornell.edu Cornell Maple Program Young, Connor chy32@cornell.edu CCE Columbia-Greene
Project Partners
News and Updates
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…
Read MoreA 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…
Read MoreAbout Steve Gabriel
Steve is an Extension Specialist focused on specialty mushroom production and agroforestry. Throughout his career, Steve has taught thousands of people about the ways farming and forestry can be combined to both benefit the ecology and economies of small farms. He is also a farmer, author, hiker, and musician.
Read Articles by Steve Gabriel
Cornell Agroforestry - 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: