Agroforestry is an agriculture practice that incorporates trees and shrubs into traditional farming. Merging these systems is a surprisingly effective way of sustaining healthy soil and biodiversity. If more people in the farming industry adopt these methods, it could be the solution many in the Midwest have been looking for.
The State Of Farming In The Midwest
With farming practices in the Midwest having a history of relying on crops like corn and soybeans, soil degradation is starting to become a problem, and risk factors like climate change are only becoming more apparent. Agroforestry could hold the key to mitigating these issues.
The Benefits Of Agroforestry
There are many benefits to agroforestry. One of the biggest is improving the health of soil and water quality. If trees and shrubs were incorporated into farming, it would also increase the biodiversity of the wildlife in the area, increasing the habitat that indigenous species have.
Economic Advantages
Farmers who adopt agroforestry could also diversify their income, having multiple ventures to fall back on. Planting trees and shrubs could yield worthwhile investments like timber, fruit, and nuts. This would mean that they wouldn’t only rely on monoculture crops as they have been in the past.
Carbon Storage
Trees are some of the best carbon sinks in the world. If 5% of farmed lands adopted agroforestry in Illinois alone, that would store approximately 43 million tons of CO2 every year. Widespread adoption could help mitigate the effects of climate change and improve the health of crops and soil as a result.
Gaining Traction
Some agroforestry methods in the Midwest are already being adopted. Some of these techniques include alley cropping (planting trees between rows of crops), winbreaks (using trees to shield crops from wind and other harsh elements), and riparian buffers (planting vegetation by waterways to filter runoff).
Misconceptions About Agroforestry
Many traditional farming methods like to keep crops and farming separate from trees and shrubs. While inviting wildlife closer to a farm can lead to crop destruction, if population control is allowed, then these factors are minor.
Governmental Support
Recently, government initiatives have been trying to get farmers to adopt the practice more widely in the Midwest. These initiatives will provide financial aid and technical assistance to help farmers who start using agroforestry on their farms get started with sustainable practices.
Expanding Agroforestry Incentives Project
The Expanding Agroforestry Incentives Project is the largest agroforestry initiative right now that has allocated $36 million spread over five years. These funds are to help grow more than 30,000 acres of agroforestry in 30 states in America. Farmers who are eligible for this grant will be given 35 dollars for every tree planted as part of agroforestry.
Technical Assistance
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is also giving aid to farmers willing to start converting their farm to agroforestry. The NRCS will give farmers both technical and financial assistance to help cover the cost of starting the practice.
Educational Outreach
Educational programs are also part of these initiatives. The Nature Conservancy, among others, are offering free workshops, webinars, and even connecting farmers with others who’ve worked on agroforestry themselves. These are all a push to spread the adoption of the sutainable way of farming.
A New Way Of Farming
Government initiatives like the ones mentioned are all being put into place to try to encourage this relatively new and controversial way of farming that shies away from traditional methods. By creating a positive impression of agroforestry, more farmers would be interested in trying it out, especially when the Midwest has already suffered from soil degradation and climate change.
A Push For Sustainability
If enough farmers embrace agroforestry, it could be a mutually beneficial venture. Sustainable agroforestry can protect the environment while diversifying practitioner’s income. But only time will tell if agroforestry grows.
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