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.
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Silvopasture
Silvopasture is the thoughtful integration of trees, forage, and livestock in a managed system that provides shade…
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Urban Food Forests (coming soon!)
Coming Soon!
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Alley Cropping (Coming Soon!)
More details coming soon! Nut Production Resources: Key Contacts: Connor Youngerman czy2@cornell.edu
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Windbreaks
Windbreaks are plantings of trees and/or shrubs that reduce wind speed in an agricultural area. First used…
Events
November 2026
Saturday, November 14 · 1 – 3 pm EST
Acorn Processing Workshop
Cornell Botanic Gardens Nevin Welcome Center 124 Comstock Knoll Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850
Join us to re-connect with acorns and learn how to process them into a nutritious local food source! Acorns have been utilized as a food resource by many different people and cultures for millennia. However, many modern cultures have ‘forgotten’…
$25
October 2027
October 29 – 31, 2027 · All day
Northeast Agroforestry Conference
The Desmond Hotel, Albany, NY 660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY
Whether you are curious about the ecological and financial advantages of incorporating trees into farm production systems or you already have deep expertise in agroforestry, this conference will have something for you. Hear from incredible speakers, meet others with shared…
News and Updates
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Working with Little Reverse Osmosis Units for Syrup Production
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One of the biggest drawbacks of making maple syrup for a back yarder or small maple producer is the time it takes to boil the sap into syrup. The idea of using a small reverse osmosis unit to assist with the syrup making is very interesting to many small maple producers. There are many little…
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Agroforestry in Practice: a 3-day training for Service Providers
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Agroforestry in Practice: 3-day training for Service Providers October 17, 18, and 19, 2017 Montour Falls, NY at the Schuyler County Cooperative Extension Agroforestry is the science and art of combining trees and forests with crop production. It is a topic of great interest to many landowners and farmers and offers many promising enterprises including…
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CCE Chenango Begins Work on Statewide Value Added Forest Products Initiative
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Farmers and woodland owners have opportunities to generate income from their woodlands. by Rich Taber CCE Chenango has received a grant from the New York Farm Viability Institute “Increased Farm Viability and Diversification through Value Added Forest Products”. The impetus for this project was due to the fact that 66% of New York Farms (23,576)…
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Maintaining a Healthy Sugarbush
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by Peter Smallidge A sugarbush is a special type of woodland. Woodlands include a complex mixture of natural processes and attributes such as soil type, elevation, tree species, types of wildlife, history of use, tree age and more. Foresters can help maple producers gain an in-depth understanding of these factors to achieve a healthy and…
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Hazelnut Trees Are Easy!
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Native hybrid hazelnuts provide a crop that is consistently in short supply, well known by consumers, and nearly grow themselves. by Dawn and Jeff Zarnowski Tasty and healthy hazelnuts are used in many food products desired by consumers and are chronically in short supply. Almost all hazelnuts consumed in North America are sourced from either Oregon…
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:
