SILVOPASTURE IN SOUTHEAST

1. SILVOPASTURE IN SOUTHEAST Presented by: Joshua Idassi, Ph.D. Extension Forester Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension Program

2. SILVOPASTURE • Integrates trees, forage and livestock • Environmental issues, i.e., biodiversity, watershed and scenic beauty are critical

3. SILVOPASTURE • Grazing goats make beneficial use of a vegetation resource • Tool to manage forest trees and their understory

4. In Silvopasture • Tree are combined • Improved pasture • Forming an integrated • Intensive animal husbandry

5. Why Silvopasture? • A tool designed to improve income opportunities on farms and ranches • Timber, pasture and livestock are managed as an integrated system

6. Planning Considerations • Explore economic and environmental issues • Explore local land use, zoning, cost-share and tax regulations • Other implications

7. Plant Considerations • Potential markets • Explore soil types • Climatic conditions • Species compatibility

8. Plant Considerations • Select and use trees and planting/harvesting patterns • Suitable for the site • Provide desired economic and environmental returns

9. Livestock Selection • Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, turkeys, chickens, ostriches, emus, rhea, deer, elk, lamas etc. • Be careful with browsing animals • Broadleaf trees are more prone

10. A silvopasture practice diversifies farm income; can minimize the need for chemical or mechanical vegetation control; and can reduce hay and feeding costs for livestock.

11. BENEFITS • Trees are managed for high-value sawlogs • Trees provide shade and shelter and forage • Based on spacing

12. Cattle fertilize these pecan trees with nitrogen and it causes the grass to grow. By grazing, cattle gives extra profit from the beef. Helps where we don't have to mow as much.

13. Tree species selected for a silvopastoral practice should be marketable, including • Wood and other products such as nuts or fruits, offering another source of income in addition to livestock.

14. ROTATIONAL GRAZING In a rotational grazing system, a successful silvopastoral practice requires understanding forage growth and managing the timing and duration of grazing to avoid browsing of young tree seedlings or the elongating shoots.

15. Cattle are rotationally grazed among single, double and triple rows of pitch pine / loblolly pine hybrids and black walnut trees. The pines, planted on either side of the black walnut trees, help train the black walnut trees to grow straight for high-quality lumber production.

16. GRAZING COSTS • UMC- Center for Agroforestry is working to reduce hay costs and extend the livestock grazing season through silvopasture practices. • Winter hay costs for feeding one steer can reach $91; the managed grazing practice of silvopasture can reduce this amount significantly. • Well managed silvopastures can reduce winter feed costs by approximately 20%. http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/practices/sp.asp

17. MANAGEMENT TOOLS • Tree harvesting, thinning and pruning • Fertilization • Planting legumes for N fixation • Rotational Grazing/burning • Water resources • Fencing and others

18. A BUNDLE OF BENEFITS • Provide income from Livestock sales • Selective sale of trees and timber products • Forage enhance livestock growth and production • Other secondary products

19. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS • Wildlife diversity and water quality • Enhance soil fertility • Enhance park-like setting • Less concerns of odors, dust, noise and diseases in contrast to concentrated livestock operations

20. DRAWBACKS • Fencing costs can be very high • Crooked high quality hardwoods • 3. May involve intensive pruning

21. REFERENCES • Photos from Dr. An Peischel collections • http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/ • practices/sp.as • 3. Handout references