United States USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework, Fiscal Year

40 Pages·2011·0.86 MB·English

United States USDA Agroforestry
Department of
Agriculture
Strategic Framework,
June 2011
Fiscal Year 2011–2016
Enriching Our Lives With Trees That Work
Additional copies of this Strategic Framework can be downloaded from
<http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=FOREST_FORESTRY>.
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Contents
Message From the Secretary of Agriculture .............................1 Objective 2.2–DISCOVER: Conduct interagency and mul-
tidisciplinary research to advance agroforestry science and
Vision, Mission, Motto, Guiding Principles .............................2
technologies .......................................................................9
Objective 2.3–TRANSLATE: Move agroforestry innova-
Strategic Roadmap ....................................................................3
tions into products and services.........................................9
Introduction ...............................................................................4
Strategic Goal 3–INTEGRATION: Incorporate agroforestry
Strategic Goal 1–ADOPTION: Increase use of agroforestry by into an all-lands approach to conservation and economic
landowners and communities ....................................................7 development ............................................................................10
Objective 1.1–DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS: Develop Objective 3.1–INSTITUTIONALIZE: Incorporate agrofor-
learning partnerships with stakeholders, with a priority on estry into USDA policies, programs, and activities ........11
tribes, underserved, and minority audiences .....................7 Objective 3.2–ASSESS PERFORMANCE: Account for
Objective 1.2–EDUCATE PROFESSIONALS: Enable and monitor agroforestry impacts and applications ........11
natural resource professionals to provide technical, educa- Objective 3.3–COMMUNICATE RESULTS: Promote
tional, financial, and marketing assistance ........................7 awareness and appreciation of agroforestry ....................12
Objective 1.3–ENGAGE GLOBALLY: Support exchange
of agroforestry technology between the United States and
Appendix A: The Interagency Agroforestry Team ..................13
other countries ...................................................................8
Appendix B: Missions and Programs of USDA Agencies
and Partners .....................................................................14
Strategic Goal 2–SCIENCE: Advance the understanding of,
Appendix C: Summary of Stakeholder Feedback ...................25
and tools for, applying agroforestry ..........................................9
Appendix D: History of Agroforestry in the United States .....30
Objective 2.1–PLAN: Identify, assess, and prioritize
interagency agroforestry science and technology needs,
opportunities, and investments ..........................................9
Enriching Our Lives With Trees That Work iii
iv USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework—Fiscal Year 2011–2016
Message From the Secretary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed this Agroforestry Strategic
Framework to increase awareness and support of agroforestry. It brings together the ideas
and resources of five USDA agencies, two key partners, and a diverse group of
stakeholders. This strategic framework creates a roadmap for advancing the science,
practice, and application of agroforestry as a means of enhancing America’s agricultural
landscapes, watersheds, and rural communities.
While Governor of Iowa, I saw first-hand the benefits associated with the application of
agroforestry to local farms, ranches, and woodlands. As the Secretary of Agriculture, I am
pleased with USDA’s efforts to balance agricultural production with natural resource conservation. Established with assis-
tance from USDA or other public agencies and private organizations, riparian forest buffers and other agroforestry practices
have helped to reduce soil erosion and nutrient run-off and conserve natural resources, such as water and wildlife, on several
million acres. These practices have been a key component of landscape conservation efforts, such as the Chesapeake Bay
and Gulf of Mexico initiatives.

I have, however, also noticed that the application of agroforestry is not widespread. Agroforestry—the intentional combining
of agriculture and forestry to create integrated and sustainable land-use systems—presents an opportunity to address
agricultural and conservation concerns and enrich human lives not only at the local level, but at the State, national, and global
levels as well. Agroforestry addresses several of the top priorities identified in the USDA Strategic Plan for fiscal years
2010–2015.
The USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework is built around three simple goals: Adoption, Science, and Integration. These
goals will enable USDA to provide additional knowledge, tools, and assistance to better combine agriculture and forestry for
the benefit of landowners, communities, and the Nation. The principles of leadership, partnerships, engagement, and
enrichment guide USDA efforts to enhance the production of food, feed, fiber, and renewable energy; to enhance the sustain-
ability and prosperity of rural communities; and to protect, conserve, and restore natural resources.
I plan to release a policy statement on agroforestry and establish an Agroforestry Steering Committee that will guide the
implementation of this strategic framework. Please join me in an “all lands/all hands” approach that expands the application
of agroforestry and generates prosperity in new ways while helping to conserve the Nation’s natural resources and ensuring
sustainable production of food, feed, fiber, and energy for the country and the world.

THOMAS J. VILSACK
Secretary of Agriculture
Enriching Our Lives With Trees That Work 1
Vision, Mission, Motto, Guiding Principles
Vision
Creating productive and healthy farms,
ranches, woodlands, and communities
through agroforestry
Mission
Provide knowledge, tools, and assistance
to combine agriculture and forestry for the
benefit of the landowner, the community,
and the Nation
Motto
Enriching our lives with trees that work
Guiding Principles
Achieving the vision will require:
• Leadership—Providing the leadership,
knowledge, and assistance in agroforestry
for the benefit of the Nation.
• Partnerships—Bringing together the di-
versity of public agencies and land stew-
ards to capitalize on the strengths of all.
• Engagement—Continuously seeking the
involvement, input, action, and feedback
of partners and customers.
• Enrichment—Contributing to conser-
vation, restoration, and resiliency of all
lands.
2 USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework—Fiscal Year 2011–2016
Strategic Roadmap
There are four key purposes for the USDA Agroforestry Each of these three goals has a desired outcome and three
Strategic Framework: objectives that describe how USDA will carry out this
• Increase USDA and partner awareness and sup- strategic framework. Each objective has strategies that
port for agroforestry as a means to implement the provide further specifics on how the goals, objectives, and
USDA Strategic Plan (2010-2015); desired outcome will be attained. To attain these goals and
• Identify the most important future USDA emphasis objectives, USDA must effectively incorporate agroforestry
areas for agroforestry research, development, and into its programs, policies, and activities. To facilitate this,
technology transfer; USDA will need to:
• Establish an interagency Agroforestry Steering • Issue a policy statement in support of agroforestry;
Committee to guide USDA implementation of the • Through a proposal in the Farm Bill, define agro-
strategic framework (including the activities of the forestry and specifically authorize its application;
Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation • Develop a Memorandum of Understanding that
Service, Agricultural Research Service, National establishes a steering committee to increase agro-
Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Farm forestry collaboration among USDA mission areas,
Service Agency); and agencies, and cooperators;
• Expand on-the-ground application of agroforestry • Guide implementation of this strategic framework
practices and systems to support attainment of the through the Agroforestry Steering Committee;
USDA Strategic Plan. • Develop an implementation plan for this strategic
framework that will include progress indicators,
To assist the Nation in addressing today’s challenges, baselines, metrics, and targets; and
USDA will: • Establish an interagency reporting system that
• Increase use of agroforestry by landowners and tracks the application of agroforestry practices and
communities (Goal 1—ADOPTION); the change in benefits that accrue to landowners
• Advance the understanding of, and tools for, apply- and communities.
ing agroforestry (Goal 2—SCIENCE); and
• Incorporate agroforestry into an all-lands approach USDA mission area and agency plans, as they are being
to conservation and economic development (Goal developed and updated, are expected to incorporate agro-
3—INTEGRATION). forestry, as appropriate, and support accomplishment of the
USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework.
Enriching Our Lives With Trees That Work 3
Introduction
Agroforestry: a unique land management approach of working trees
The foundation of agroforestry is putting trees to work in
conservation and production systems for farms, forests, Agroforestry is the intentional mixing
of trees and shrubs into crop and
ranches, and communities. Agroforestry begins with plac-
animal production systems to create
ing the right plant, in the right place, for the right purpose.
environmental, economic, and social
benefits
Agroforestry is a unique land management approach that
provides opportunities to integrate productivity and profit-
ability with environmental stewardship, resulting in healthy
These five practices can be designed to accommodate other
and sustainable agricultural systems that can be passed on to
purposes such as odor mitigation, improving pollinator habi-
future generations.
tat, trapping snow, or producing biomass feedstock.

Agroforestry technologies, when used appropriately, help at-
tain sustainable agricultural land-use systems in many ways.
Specifically, agroforestry technologies:
• Provide protection for valuable topsoil, livestock,
crops, and wildlife.
• Increase productivity of agricultural and horticul-
tural crops.
• Reduce inputs of energy and chemicals.
• Increase water use efficiency of plants and animals.
• Improve water quality.
• Diversify local economies.
• Enhance biodiversity and landscape diversity.
• Reconnect agriculture, people, and communities. Windbreaks
Agroforestry technologies ultimately enhance the quality of
life for people.
There are five categories of agroforestry practices in the
United States:
• Field, farmstead, and livestock windbreaks.
• Riparian forest buffers along waterways.
• Silvopasture systems with trees, livestock, and for-
ages growing together.
• Alley cropping that integrates annual crops with
high-value trees and shrubs.
• Forest farming where food, herbal (botanicals), and
decorative products are grown under the protection
Silvopasture
of a managed forest canopy.
4 USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework—Fiscal Year 2011–2016
Riparian Forest Buffer Alley Cropping
There is a significant opportunity to apply agroforestry prac- USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework
tices to address the priorities identified in the current USDA Development
Strategic Plan, including landscape-scale conservation,
In recognition of the significant contribution to society and
climate change, clean and abundant water for communities,
the need to coordinate USDA programs, resources, and
biomass energy, and sustainable agriculture. Integrated into
services to maximize public benefits, the Forest Service and
individual farm operations and watersheds, agroforestry
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) initiated
practices can create and enhance certain desirable functions
an effort in January 2010 to develop an Agroforestry Stra-
and outcomes essential for sustainability.
tegic Framework. The Forest Service and NRCS reached
out to other USDA agencies and two key partners to charter
The effective application of agroforestry in the United
an Interagency Agroforestry Team (IAT) that would jointly
States requires leadership and teamwork by USDA and
develop the strategic framework with input from a diverse
its partners in both: (1) developing agroforestry science
group of stakeholders.
and tools and (2) delivering agroforestry assistance to
the owners/managers of working farms, woodlands,
USDA agencies on the IAT:
ranches, and communities. Both are essential if we are
• Forest Service
to realize the many benefits of this unique approach to
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
land management.
• Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
• National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
• Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Enriching Our Lives With Trees That Work 5
Forest Farming Special Applications
Key partners on the IAT: Previous Agroforestry Activity
• National Association of State Foresters (NASF) The history of USDA and its partners’ roles in agroforestry
• National Association of Conservation Districts can be traced back to the windbreaks that were established
(NACD) during the Dust Bowl years to reduce soil erosion in the
Great Plains. More widespread interest in the United States
Individual members of the IAT are listed in Appendix A, and began in the mid-1980s. Even though the science and prac-
a brief description of the mission and programs of each part- tice of agroforestry has advanced in the United States since
ner and USDA agency is provided in Appendix B. External the 1980s, it has still not been institutionalized into USDA’s
and internal stakeholder input was solicited at a May 2010 concepts, philosophy, strategies, and programs. This is-
Agroforestry Roundtable Workshop conducted in Wash- sue was recognized in 1996, when a USDA Interagency
ington, DC. Approximately 90 stakeholders participated Working Group on Agroforestry was established under the
in the workshop, representing landowner and conservation leadership of the USDA Director of Sustainable Develop-
organizations, tribes, universities/extension, State agencies, ment Programs. The Working Group commissioned a task
regional councils, as well as other USDA/Federal agencies. force in 1997 to assess the potential of agroforestry to help
The IAT considered the stakeholder input and incorporated attain USDA sustainable development goals and to develop
many of its ideas into the strategic framework. For a sum- a strategy to realize that potential. Three other national
mary of the stakeholder input, see Appendix C. agroforestry reports (two in 1994, one in 2000) and the
2008 “joint forestry” Memorandum of Understanding also
address agroforestry issues and opportunities in the United
States. See Appendix D for more information about these
reports and the history of agroforestry in the United States.
6 USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework—Fiscal Year 2011–2016