Agroforestry

Project Lead: Connor Youngerman, Tracey Testo

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.

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History of Agroforestry at Cornell

Cornell University faculty, Extension, and other staff have been leading agroforestry research and education efforts for 100 years!

Events

  • Introduction to Syntropic Agroforestry

    CCE Orange County & Hudson Valley Farm Hub are proud to present a talk on Syntropic Agroforestry, delivered by the system's creator, Ernst Götsch. Syntropic Agroforestry is an agricultural system developed by Ernst Götsch that exceeds conventional production per acre, using no inputs while simultaneously accumulating more biomass and building more soil than natural forests.…

    $20
  • Spring Hazelnut Workshop at Dilmun Hill Student Farm

    Dilmun Hill Farm 705 Dryden Rd, Ithaca, United States

    The Cornell Small Farms Program Agroforestry team is pleased to announce the first of two comprehensive hazelnut production workshops. Join Brian Caldwell (Hemlock Grove Farm) and Jonathan Bates (Agroforestry Educator, CCE Tompkins County) to learn about hazelnut siting, genetics, and planting. Propagation techniques from seed and clones will also be covered. The workshop will take…

    Free
  • New York Nut Growers Association 2026 Spring Meeting

    Danby Volunteer Fire Company 1780 Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY, United States

    Stay up to date with nut growing in New York and meet experienced growers! All are welcome to register to attend the New York Nut Growers Association 2026 Spring Meeting on…

    $25
  • Air Pruned Raised Beds 101

    The Sherman Creek Center 3725 10th Ave., New York, NY, United States

    Join Connor Youngerman of Cornell Small Farms and NYRP’s Parks & Urban Agriculture teams for an introduction to Air Pruned Raised Beds (APRBs) from construction to implementation. APRBs have been…

    Free
  • Introduction to Air Pruned Raised Beds (APRBs)

    Smiling Hogshead Ranch 25-30 Skillman Ave, Long Island City, NY, United States

    Join Connor Youngerman of Cornell Small Farms and the team at Smiling Hogshead Ranch for a hands-on, train-the-trainer workshop introducing Air Pruned Raised Beds (APRBs) from construction to implementation. Designed…

    Free
  • Air Pruned Raised Beds for Tree Seedling Production – Allegany County

    Wild Geese Farm 8499 Agett Rd, Franklinville, United States

    Cornell Cooperative Extension Allegany County in conjunction with the Cornell Small Farms Program will be offering a hands-on workshop on Air Pruned Raised Beds (APRBs). The workshop, hosted at Wild…

    Free

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

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News and Updates

Black Locust: A Tree with Many Uses

By Steve Gabriel | January 8, 2018

In early October this past year, a devoted group of foresters, farmers, extension educations, students, and others gathered at the USDA Plant Materials Center in Big Flats, NY to discuss…

Working with Little Reverse Osmosis Units for Syrup Production

By Stephen Childs | October 2, 2017

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…

Agroforestry in Practice: a 3-day training for Service Providers

By Steve Gabriel | September 27, 2017

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…

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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: