Find the updated profile on the new ARKx   ORGs  and   FARMS  pages. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The  Agroforestry Coalition is partnering with the Food Finance Institute (FFI) to launch an agroforestry business accelerator program! The Agroforestry Fellows Program (modeled off of the successful FFI Food Fellows Program ) will s upport nascent and growing agroforestry brands and processing businesses, from seed (or sapling) to shelf.     If you are growing agroforestry crops as a food ingredient and/or want to turn them into a  value added product like a juice, snack product, frozen item, or any other consumer packaged good (CPG) brand – we want to help you get there!  If you are already operating an agroforestry brand (value-added product) and are looking to scale – join us to meet and learn from industry experts!  If you help agroforestry products come to market as a food brand who purchases agroforestry ingredients, a processor who transforms the state of an agroforestry item – or anywhere in between – if you help grow agroforestry brands this program could be for you!  Apply for this free program today! Please share broadly with any AF brands, processors, or farms in the US and territories looking to build brands.   Applications are due by or before July 25th.  All Fellows receive free:  1-on-1 Coaching from an FFI experienced coach  Fellows Only Cohort Meetings with Training on:  Accounting, Budgeting, Costing, Pricing  Sales Management, eCommerce, Branding & Marketing  Operations Development, Process & Supply Chain Optimization  Financial Planning, Raising Equity, Sources & Uses of Capital  Investor Pitch Presentations  End of program closing at the Savanna Institute’s Perennial Farm Gathering March 11 -13 2026 in Dubuque, IA – including an opportunity to pitch your business ask in front of a live audience.  Full access to  Food Finance Learning Center  offerings, including our Deep Dive (on-demand) courses  Expert Industry Connections and Introductions including FFI and the Agroforestry Coalition Broader Network access  This program is hosted in collaboration with:

Find the updated profile on the new ARKx   ORGs  and   FARMS  pages. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Partner Name NC State University, Department of Horticultural Science Location Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC Coordinator Jeanine Davis ,   jeanine_davis@ncsu.edu Margaret Bloomquist, mgbloomq@ncsu.edu Partner Description NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program We help NC farmers and forest landowners build more sustainable and profitable operations through agroforestry. Our research and extension program optimizes existing production systems, and develops promising new forest-farmed crops. We also work with stakeholders and industry to develop and expand markets for locally grown forest products. Our program provides workshops and other educational opportunities,and access to accurate, research based information on production and marketing. Service area Southeastern US Events, training or resources offered https://newcropsorganics.ces.ncsu.edu/events/ Links to your website, pages, social media, etc. https://newcropsorganics.ces.ncsu.edu/ https://www.instagram.com/ncaltcrops/ https://www.facebook.com/ncalternativecropsandorganics Sign up for our newsletter: https://apps.ces.ncsu.edu/activecampaign/sign-up/127551/54/

Find the updated profile on the new ARKx   ORGs  and   FARMS  pages. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Partner Organization Name Organic Growers School Location  38 Hawk Hill Rd, Asheville, NC 28806 Contact person/coordinator Megan Krintz, Programs Coordinator megan@organicgrowersschool.org Partner Description Organic Growers School (OGS) provides accessible, practical organic education in the Southern Appalachian area and beyond. While OGS is a landless organization, we work with farmers and partner organizations to provide peer-to-peer training in multiple aspects of farming, including forest farming. Agroforestry Summary We offer trainings for forest farmers and land stewards, both novice and experienced, to understand the wealth and history of woodland botanicals and forest products in Southern Appalachia. Service area Southern Appalachian region Events, training or resources offered. Forest Farming Tours (in person), peer-to-peer farmer network, mentorship, connections and referrals. Links to your website, pages, social media, etc. https://www.organicgrowersschool.org/forest-farming

Find the updated profile on the new ARKx ORGs  and FARMS  pages. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Partner or Resource Name The New England Agroforester Location  University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH Contact person/coordinator Jess Gerrior, PhD, Communications Specialist agroforestry@unh.edu Agroforestry Practices Forest Farming Silvopasture Windbreaks Alley Cropping Riparian Buffers Community Food Forest Services offered and area Research, Education, Extension Description The New England Agroforester is part of ADAPT’s commitment to communicating relevant developments and resources to a wider audience. Through integrated research, education, and extension, ADAPT is developing a network of demonstration sites, creating the New England Agroforestry Training Program (NEAT) at UNH Extension, and providing agroforestry educational opportunities. Our newsletter Editorial Advisory Board provides expert guidance and support, contributing to strategic direction, content quality, and impact among the diverse agroforestry community. Adaptive Agroforestry Principles & Teaching-New England (ADAPT), a USDA-funded project based at University of New Hampshire, with partners Dartmouth College and Yale University and in collaboration with cooperators, consultants, and service providers throughout the Northeast, explores agroforestry's potential as a climate-smart and sustainable strategy for expanding agricultural production in New England. The New England Agroforester is the ADAPT Project's quarterly newsletter, providing timely and useful info on regional agroforestry projects, training opportunities, research activities, events, job postings, funding announcements, and more. Service Area New England Events, training or resources offered Contact agroforestry@unh.edu for info. Links to website, pages, social media, etc. Inaugural edition, Fall Equinox 2025: https://extension.unh.edu/resource/new-england-agroforester-fall-equinox-2025 Subscribe here: https://unhoutreach.tfaforms.net/217751?CID=701Rh00000iXVaUIAW

Find the updated profile on the new ARKx ORGs  and FARMS  pages. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Demonstration site name NC State Forest Farming Demonstration Site Contact name Jeanine Davis ,   jeanine_davis@ncsu.edu Margaret Bloomquist, mgbloomq@ncsu.edu Location  Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC Agroforestry Practices Forest Farming Agroforestry acreage 3 acres Years in agroforestry 35 (since 1990) Agroforestry Summary The NC State Forest Farming Demonstration Site provides growers, forest landowners, and service providers with opportunities to learn about valuable native woodland botanical species and non-timber forest products suitable for production in our region. Visitors learn about identification, habitat requirements, and management of forest farmed species including woodland botanicals like ramps, goldenseal, bloodroot, and black cohosh, as well as paw paws and wild mushrooms. This demonstration site is a component of the NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program in NC State University’s Horticultural Science Department. Agroforestry Goals (3-5 sentences) The NC State Forest Farming Demonstration Site is primarily for educational and training purposes, although through maintenance of this site, we are also stewarding native woodland botanical populations and serving as a genetic reservoir for selected species. Practices and Production (3-5 sentences) The forest farming methods practiced at this site are a mix of wild-stewarded, wild-simulated, and woods-grown techniques for understory species. These species include goldenseal, ramps, Solomon's seal, fairy wand, stone root, mayapple, trilliums, wild yam, and bloodroot, as well as elderberry, paw paw, american spikenard, and more. Agroforestry Demonstrations, Education, Events The NC State Forest Farming Demonstration Site has been active since 1990 and is part of the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, established at the current location in Mills River in 1959. The station is run jointly by NC State University and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) and occupies 397 acres of research fields, forest, and built facilities, at a base elevation of 2069 feet. Public and Visitor Access Access to the site is limited to attendees of scheduled events or by appointment only. Links to website, social media, etc. The Western North Carolina (WNC) Woodland Stewards are a group within the WNC Medicinal Herb Growers who are beginning and advanced forest farmers that meet monthly for hands-on programming. NC Extension and Natural Resource Professional trainings are regularly offered as well as scheduled tours, participatory research, and more. https://newcropsorganics.ces.ncsu.edu/ https://www.instagram.com/ncaltcrops/ https://www.facebook.com/ncalternativecropsandorganics Sign up for our newsletter: https://apps.ces.ncsu.edu/activecampaign/sign-up/127551/54/

Author: Center for Agroforestry News, University of Missouri, 2025 Sharing research and practice to inform the future of perennial landscapes  19th NAAC - North American Agroforestry Conference 2025 In late-July, 200 agroforestry professionals, scientists, farmers, technical assistance providers, educators, and students arrived in Columbia, Missouri for the 19th North American Agroforestry Conference (NAAC). The biennial conference was last hosted in Missouri in 2009. A decade and a half later, our colleagues, peers, and partners joined us once again to brave the heat July 23-25 on the University of Missouri’s beautiful campus and on nearby working farms and demonstration sites. “Agroforestry science has come a long way over these decades, and we have a lot to show for ourselves here in Mid-Missouri” said Hannah Hemmelgarn, assistant director of the Center for Agroforestry and lead conference planner. “Hosting the conference gives us all an opportunity to connect the dots between our own and others’ research, our collective impact, and how we can grow together.”  Read the full article and find the excellent photo gallery at: https://centerforagroforestry.org/north-american-agroforestry-conference-returns-to-missouri-roots-sharing-research-and-practice-to-inform-the-future-of-perennial-landscapes/ The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry: https://centerforagroforestry.org/ Association for Temperate Agroforestry: https://www.agroforestryassociation.org/

Are you a natural resource professional working in Washington, Oregon, or California? Do you work in Extension, Consulting, Government, Education, Policy Development, Planning, Non-Profits, or as a Technical Service Provider? The California Agroforestry Network Research Team, along with colleagues in Oregon and Washington, are looking for your  input ! We want to better understand your perspectives about what are the most urgent and relevant priorities and information needs for agroforestry in this region. We hope to identify specific opportunities and gaps in our knowledge and practice of agroforestry throughout this region. This survey will help to advance our understanding of regional priorities and gaps, build a West Coast-wide collaborative network of agroforestry professionals, and motivate future agroforestry research and adoption specifically relevant to our region. We also aim to help guide natural resource professionals in their work to promote agroforestry practices. The survey is voluntary and you may opt out of the survey at any point. Your survey answers will be recorded, but your name will not be recorded or disclosed. We need your help to identify the most urgent and relevant agroforestry topics in our region!There are only 14 questions and the survey should take less than 10 minutes.  This project is being led by Dr. Amy Quandt at San Diego State University. Please contact her at  aquandt@sdsu.edu  with any questions you might have. If you consent to participate in the survey please click on the following link:   https://sdsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8oJQdQAkvZ8ZXRc The California Agroforestry Network is a peer learning network dedicated to supporting agroforestry adoption in California through coordinated research, education, training, and peer-to-peer learning. You can learn more about our work on our website, at  calagroforestry.org .  Join our network  to stay connected!

From Forest Floor to Market Door: Cultivating Success in Forest Farming Join Rural Action and United Plant Savers for the 2025 Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference, a weekend-long immersive event that unites both novice and seasoned forest farmers, professionals, and natural product entrepreneurs from around the region.   During the conference, attendees will delve into a wide array of forest farming topics, including the intricacies of cultivating, conserving, harvesting, and marketing a diverse variety of species such as mushrooms, goldenseal, and elderberry. Each of these species presents unique challenges and opportunities, and our line up of speakers will guide participants through best practices and innovative techniques to maximize yield and sustainability. The conference will also place a strong emphasis on small business development, offering valuable insights into marketing strategies, value-added product creation, and exploring agritourism as a viable means to diversify income streams. This aspect of the conference aims to empower participants to engage the public with forest-based enterprises, fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural resources that surround us. ​ Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy hands-on learning experiences, engage with inspiring speakers, and take advantage of invaluable networking opportunities in the heart of Appalachian Ohio, at the beautiful United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary and Center for Medicinal Plant Conservation. This serene and picturesque setting will not only enhance the learning experience but also provide a perfect backdrop for forging connections with like-minded individuals who share a passion for forest farming and sustainable practices. For those interested in attending, be sure to check the page linked below for updates including the conference schedule, speaker bios, registration deadlines, travel information, and more.

Published: 01 February 2025 in SPRINGER NATURE by Todd Kellerman , Samuel Feibel , Matthew M. Smith , Gary Bentrup , Mark Batcheler & Katherine MacFarland   Read full article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10457-024-01096-2 Abstract Agroforestry offers producers climate mitigation and adaptation benefits and the opportunity to diversify income and enhance ecosystem services. Though these benefits are well-researched, few studies document agroforestry implementation through time in the United States using consistent national data sources. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated changes in the number of farm operations with agroforestry across the United States using data from the 2017 and 2022 United States Census of Agriculture. Through this analysis, we showed that the number of farm operations with agroforestry increased by 6% nationally between 2017 (30,853) and 2022 (32,717). States with the highest percent of total farms reporting at least one type of agroforestry were Vermont (7.8%), Maine (6.0%), and New Hampshire (5.6%), while states with the lowest percent were Arizona (0.3%), Utah (0.4%), and North Dakota (0.4%). States on the eastern half of the country tended to see increases in the number of farm operations with agroforestry between census years, while states on the western half of the country saw the largest decreases. Reasons for these changes are complex and require additional analysis. Additionally, we identified potential factors that may decrease the accuracy of agroforestry census data, along with recommendations on how to improve overall data quality going forward. We outlined how national agroforestry census data can inform decision-making related to farm policies, funding, programs, research, and extension delivery. With an online supplement, we also provided detailed maps of the extent of agroforestry in all 50 states.

Forest farming and agroforestry are in the NC State Extension news with this article from Simon Gonzalez. Read about farming with the forest - not against it, how agroforestry can intersect with many types of agriculture, sites, and needs, and a recent Agroforestry Farm Tour near Durham, NC. These agroforestry farm tours are a collaboration with the Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange Network (ARKx) & Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant Program (CAGP), NC State Extension and farmers around Western and Central North Carolina. Learn more about future Agroforestry Farm Tours and other in person and online events by visiting the CatalyzingAgroforestry.org website or the AFFC's Community Forest Farming Calendar . Read the article here:  https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/2025/07/nc-state-extension-agroforestry/ NC State Extension specialists Margaret Bloomquist (center) and Mary Bulan (right) explain the benefits of forest farming on an agroforestry farm tour in Durham.