Agroforestry
Agroforestry is an important step in forestry management and agricultural production. Access Penn State Extension’s resources on forestry business and agroforestry systems. Find advice on best management practices, sustainable forest harvesting, and record keeping. Tips on the wood products industry, including the production of ginseng, moss, and goldenseal, are available.
What Is Agroforestry
Agroforestry is a land management approach that integrates trees and shrubs into agricultural/land-use systems. Implementing this approach can offer various environmental benefits, including reduced soil erosion, increased biodiversity, and reduced carbon emissions. Additionally, agroforestry can provide income from forest wood products and high-value specialty crops.
From selling sawed lumber to sawmill dust, the forest products industry in Pennsylvania can utilize all parts of a tree or log. While trees are growing and increasing in value, cultivating crops in the forest’s understory may be a sensible option for many landowners.
Medicinal plants, especially American ginseng, are often high-value crops that can be cultured in a variety of forested habitats. Another high-value crop to consider is the maple tree. The most suitable species for maple syrup production in PA is the sugar maple.
When starting a nontimber secondary enterprise to improve your income, having a forest management plan in place is important. To ensure successful agroforestry, the plan should predict the available natural resources and secure their sustainability into the future. Landowners looking to manage their land sustainably can find detailed information – as well as assistance – through Penn State Extension and the PA Partners for Sustainable Forests.
Agroforestry Best Practices
Agroforestry helps reduce pressure on natural forests and promotes sustainable woodland management. Managing forested/agricultural land sustainably involves meeting social, ecological, and economic needs in a way that conserves ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations.
Harvesting timber is an important part of most agroforestry systems and an essential management tool. It can bring income and have a lasting, positive impact on the woodlands. To ensure ecological and economic sustainability, it’s sensible to analyze both the short-term economic returns and the long-term consequences of timber harvest.
In addition, implementing forest stewardship principles can help protect natural resources and keep forests healthy and productive. These principles include maintaining biodiversity in the forest and landscape, improving soils and water resources, and managing forests for energy storage.
Penn State Extension offers comprehensive resources on agroforestry and forest stewardship. Join the Woodland Stewardship: Management Practices online course to learn all there is about forest ecosystems, management, and stewardship practices. Practical information is available on identifying trees, collecting field data on a forest stand, and protecting water quality.
- Webinars
Free
Forest Farming: Crop Selection - Economics and Marketing
When 11/14/2024Length 1 hour, 30 minutesPenn State experts will explore forest farming, valuable non-timber forest products, market trends, and the latest research, benefiting landowners, foragers, and related professionals. - Articles
Facts about Forest Carbon and Carbon Markets
Highlights the roles of carbon in forests as well as carbon credits, with aims to introduce the topics and direct readers to more resources. - Articles
Carbon Markets 101
This article provides an introduction to how forest carbon programs and markets work. - Articles
Climate Regulation and Change: What is Causing it?
This article explores landscape factors that affect how people experience climate, and natural and human systems that influence climate. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program. - Articles
What Should I Think About Before Signing a Forest Carbon Contract?
This article reviews what family forest owners may consider in a carbon contract. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program. - Articles
Carbon Accounting in Forest Management
This article describes how baselines and harvesting are included in carbon accounting. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program. - Articles
How to Manage Forests for Carbon: An Introduction for Family Forest Owners
This article introduces readers to carbon management strategies for different types of forest conditions on private lands. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program. - Articles
The Economic Value of Private Forests and Climate Change Mitigation
A review of some of the economic values associated with carbon and climate change mitigation on private forests. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program. - Articles
How Much Should I be Paid to Manage Forest Carbon?
A look at the role of opportunity costs and management objectives associated with forest carbon payments. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education program. - Articles
Long-Term Financial Planning for Timber and Carbon
This article introduces how to make long-term financial estimates for both timber and carbon in two scenarios. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education program. - Articles
Resources for Family Forest Owners: Carbon Markets and Climate-Smart Forestry
Are you interested in climate-smart forestry? Do you want to know more about carbon incentives? Check out these resources. - Articles
Conversions Commonly Used When Comparing Timber and Carbon Values
This article will describe how to convert timber and carbon values from one unit to another. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program. - Articles
Case Study 2: Three Landowners' Experiences with Climate Smart Forest Programs
This article describes the experiences of three forest landowners selling forest carbon in Pennsylvania and Mississippi. - Articles
Case Study 1: Two Landowners' Experiences With Carbon Payment Programs
This article describes the experiences of two Pennsylvanian forest landowners considering more than one carbon program. - Articles
Methods for Estimating Carbon Within Forests
A description of the kinds of computation methods used by forestry professionals to estimate amount of carbon in trees and groundcover. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program. - Articles
Forest Carbon Pools: Where are They?
This article provides an overview of where carbon pools are located in a forest. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program. - Articles
What Do Forest Carbon "Sequestration" and "Storage" Mean?
This article discusses the terms carbon sequestration and carbon storage to help people understand the difference and use in a carbon market context. - Articles
Questions to Ask Before Joining a Carbon Program
This article lays out some questions landowners should ask about carbon payment programs. Content provided by the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program. - Webinars
Free
An Introduction to Forests, Carbon Sequestration and Markets
When Multiple Options AvailableLearn about forest carbon, carbon markets and more while earning SAF credit in this informative webinar! - Online Courses
$136.00
Forest Taxation: Forest Finance and Timber Tax Education
Sections 13Length 8 hoursTax professionals and forest landowners learn about finance, taxation, and timber sales and taxation in order to save money on taxes. Earn 8 CFEs or 8 CPEs. - Articles
Goldenseal
Goldenseal is a botanical with a long production history. Its over-collection has reduced the population to dangerously low levels in many states. - Articles
American Ginseng
Nontimber forest products, including American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.), have long been collected in Pennsylvania for food, medicine, income, and pleasure. - Articles
Forest Finance 3: Keeping Record of Forest Management Activities
This article explains the importance of keeping accurate, complete, and organized records about forest management activities and expenses, particularly as they relate to income taxes. - Articles
Forest Finance 1: Sustainable Forest Harvesting: An Economic Perspective
This article includes typical financial returns over the life of a sample northern hardwood stand.