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March 11, 2022
The climate crisis and years of unsustainable farming in the United States have resulted in soil erosion, pollinator loss, farmworkers and livestock exposed to extreme heat, and other adverse impacts. In 2019, 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions came from agriculture. At the same time, farmers and the land they work are vulnerable to climate impacts such as drought and extreme weather.
Agroforestry is one of the many sustainable agriculture practices that can help farmers mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis. This article is the second in EESI’s five-part series on sustainable agriculture practices encompassing cover crops, agroforestry, no-till farming, sustainable livestock grazing, and soil amendments.
What Is Agroforestry?
Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees or shrubs into agricultural systems. Agroforestry can provide an array of environmental, climate, and economic benefits, depending on the species of trees or shrubs planted and the type of agroforestry practice implemented. Common agroforestry practices include: alley cropping (planting crops between rows of trees), forest farming (growing crops beneath forest canopy), silvopasture (integrating trees, crops, and grazing livestock), riparian forest buffers (planting trees and shrubs along river banks), and windbreaks (using trees to shelter crops from wind or other extreme weather).
Fighting Climate Change
Trees, including those planted for the purpose of agroforestry, sequester carbon dioxide by storing it in their biomass and in the soil. This contributes to climate change mitigation. In total, 110.9 million acres in the United States are eligible for agroforestry, which could sequester at least 156 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, equal to the emissions of over 33.9 million vehicles. Trees also absorb excess nutrients from the soil and do not require nitrogen-based fertilizers, both of which reduce emissions of nitrous oxide—a greenhouse gas 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at warming the planet.
In addition to sequestering carbon, agroforestry can also help avoid greenhouse gas emissions. For example, trees reduce the area of land that requires tilling, helping to avoid the usage of fossil-fuel powered equipment, and can create milder microclimates, saving energy on the heating and cooling of farm buildings.
Building Climate Resilience
Agroforestry can improve the resilience of both crop production and livestock systems. Practices like windbreaks and alley cropping shield plants from high winds and extreme weather events. Riparian forest buffers and alley cropping slow water runoff to prevent soil erosion and flooding during heavy precipitation. With more extreme temperatures expected in the United States, silvopasture can provide shelter to livestock to reduce their exposure to hot and cold weather.
Agroforestry also provides other nature-based solutions that increase resilience. Trees improve ecosystem health by providing habitat for wildlife and pollinators, by improving water quality and aquatic ecosystems, and by reducing air pollutants, making ecosystems more resilient to climate change.
Increasing Crop Yields
By improving soil quality, protecting crops from pests and changing weather conditions, and supporting natural ecosystems, agroforestry can boost crop yields. A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report found that agroforestry can increase crop yields by as much as 56 percent, which can raise farm revenue. Agroforestry can also diversify farmers’ incomes by providing additional products such as timber, fruits, and nuts that can be sold for a profit.
Agroforestry in Action: Early Boots Farm, Minnesota
Early Boots Farm raises grass-fed lamb and beef on 200 acres of pastures, forests, and wetlands in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. In 2012, the farm began practicing silvopasture, allowing the livestock to graze in pastures with trees. The farm received financial assistance from USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program to plant additional trees and implement rotational livestock grazing.
Since then, the farm has added over 5,000 trees, various grasses, and perennial plants to the pasture. The trees provide shelter and the grasses provide food for the livestock. As a result, the farm has seen improved production on silvopasture lands compared to open pastures. The farm also benefits from expanded grazing area.
Federal Programs That Support Agroforestry
Several programs within the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provide assistance to farmers to implement and maintain agroforestry practices, including:
Other USDA programs that support agroforestry include the Forest Stewardship Program of the U.S. Forest Service and the Conservation Reserve Program of the Farm Service Agency. The federal government has also partnered with states to implement agroforestry projects. For example, the Washington Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is a joint federal- and state-funded program to restore riparian habitats to protect salmon habitats in Washington State. The program has enhanced over 925 miles of streams by planting six million trees.
To read all the articles in this series, visit our Sustainable Agriculture article series webpage.
Authors: Savannah Bertrand, Anna Sophia Roberts, and Emma Walker
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