USDA's Role in Agroforestry
Agroforestry Strategic Framework
Committed to advancing agroforestry as a way to enhance the nation's economy as well as its agricultural landscapes, watersheds, and communities, USDA has released the USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework (PDF, 562 KB), fiscal years 2019-2024. The Framework provides a roadmap for advancing agroforestry through the following three goals, which are reinforced in the USDA Policy for Agroforestry:
- Reach out - Ensure all landowners and communities have access to the latest tools and information that support agroforestry adoption.
- Investigate - Conduct applied and basic research to advance the science and technology that supports the use of agroforestry.
- Integrate - Facilitate the integration of agroforestry information, research, tools, and technologies to meet the goals and objectives of USDA agencies.
Agroforestry Results
Following the roadmap laid out in the Strategic Framework, USDA is working in many ways to advance agroforestry in the United States. The report, Agroforestry: USDA Reports to America - Comprehensive Version (PDF, 7.0 MB) provides information on USDA's support for agroforestry told through case studies of farmers and woodland owners using agroforestry practices. A shorter version is available here: Agroforestry: USDA Reports to America - in brief (PDF, 18.7 MB).
Agroforestry Across USDA (PDF, 38.1 MB) highlights USDA agencies’ programs, short-term projects, and research activities that support farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners that practice agroforestry.
Agroforestry Executive Steering Committee
The Agroforestry Executive Steering Committee (AESC) guides the agroforestry activities across the Department to implement the Strategic Framework. The AESC is comprised of representatives from eight USDA agencies:
