Peter Smallidge Collects sap from a maple tree

Agroforestry Awareness and Adoption Survey

In response to a rising interest in agroforestry over the years, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene County announces that Cornell has created an extension program along with tools and resources to help farmers and land stewards combine production and conservation utilizing trees and forests.

Agroforestry is the intentional combination of agriculture and forestry to create productive and sustainable land-use practices. These practices take advantage of the interactive benefits from growing trees and shrubs together with crops and/or livestock. Agroforestry has its roots in tropical food production systems and indigenous agricultural methods. In regions with more temperate climates, such as New York, agroforestry is separated into five distinct but related practices. The five practices are: windbreaks, riparian forest buffers, alley cropping, silvopasture, and forest farming. Review the definition of those USDA practices.

In an effort to improve research and education efforts, the team has developed a New York State Agroforestry Awareness and Adoption Survey. This survey is for anyone working with lands in New York State who is interested in agroforestry in any capacity. In addition to understanding current agroforestry adopted practices, we would like to be aware of obstacles or limitations that may be preventing agroforestry adoption to better meet the needs of farmers, landowners, and managers. Knowledge about your concerns, challenges, and needs is vital to effective extension programs and to obtain grant funding to support these efforts.

Complete the survey by the end of 2021 and be entered in a raffle for free maple syrup from the Cornell Maple Program! It should take less than 15 minutes to complete.