Farmers Who Plant Trees Can Get Funding Through Agroforestry Program

By Roxy Todd

Money is available for farmers who plant trees or shrubs on their property through a new project called the Expanding Agroforestry Project.”

Agroforestry is a type of farming where crops and livestock exist on the same land as trees or shrubs.

“In simplest terms, it’s combining the field of agriculture with forestry in the same plot of land,” explained Katie Commender, director of agroforestry with Appalachian Sustainable Development. They’re partnering with The Nature Conservancy and Virginia Tech on the agroforestry project. $39 million will be available over the next three years for landowners across the country.

“It’s really just a great time for farmers who maybe are curious or interested in starting to farm with trees or shrubs. This amount of funding is really an historic opportunity for farmers to catalyze on that.

In addition to cash incentives, experts with ASD and Virginia Tech can help landowners plan, grow and sell agroforestry products. Commender said tea and tincture companies across the world are looking for these crops, and florists like the springtime blooms.

“Things like elderberries and red-osier dogwood to sell into the floral industry,” Commender said. “So really trying to create the market for a lot of what sometimes are specialized niche crops.”