Over the past several decades, research has documented increased adoption of silvopasture in the United States. However, no national survey has been conducted on silvopasture use, limiting understanding of key information needed to inform technical assistance and research. The National Agroforestry Producer Survey was conducted to address this gap. The survey was completed by 5,682 producers with agroforestry (52

Windbreaks are an agroforestry practice that have been used extensively in the United States for centuries. Researchers have investigated why producers use windbreaks through regional surveys; however, no national analysis has been conducted on windbreak extent or adoption, limiting understanding of key information needed to guide technical assistance and research. To address this knowledge gap, the National Agroforestry Producer Survey was conducted. The survey was completed by 5682 producers with agroforestry (52

Forest Action Plans (FAPs) are strategic documents guiding forest management across the United States (U.S.), yet agroforestry terminology is used inconsistently within these plans. This study analyzed 50 state FAPs to assess how agroforestry practices are communicated. Using a predetermined list of 29 terms, including the five main agroforestry practices in the U.S. (alley cropping, forest farming, riparian forest buffers, silvopasture, and windbreaks), a descriptive content analysis was conducted, examining the frequency of agroforestry terms and their associated terms across all states. Results revealed wide variation in FAP document page length and regional differences in terminology usage. FAPs ranged from about 15–681 pages and the Midwestern (Great Plains) states demonstrated the highest frequency of agroforestry term mentions. Among the five main agroforestry practices, riparian forest buffers were mentioned most frequently (437 times across 44 states), while alley cropping and forest farming appeared in only two states. Notably, some states with established agroforestry traditions and practices showed minimal explicit agroforestry term usage in their FAPs. These findings highlight the need for clearer guidance within FAPs to improve the consistency and visibility of agroforestry terminology in the U.S. This analysis establishes a benchmark for understanding how agroforestry is communicated in FAPs and offers guidance for future research and FAP writing cycles beyond the current 2025–2026 updates.

Riparian forest buffers are used in the United States for multiple conservation, cultural, and socio-economic benefits. To date, no comprehensive national survey has been conducted on producers with riparian forest buffers, limiting understanding of how they establish, manage, and value these systems. The National Agroforestry Producer Survey was conducted to address this knowledge gap. The survey was completed by 5,682 producers with agroforestry (52

A comprehensive understanding of agroforestry adoption across a landscape is critical for effective agroforestry planning. The objectives of this study are to identify the sources of agroforestry data that can be used in the United States (U.S.) for national inventory purposes, discuss the possible uses and nuances of the datasets, synthesize the data to create regional maps, and provide recommendations for improving future agroforestry inventory efforts. To accomplish this, we queried multiple government databases containing agroforestry inventory data and spoke with agency representatives with in-depth knowledge of each dataset. Data from federal conservation programs were found to be useful for assessing practice-level adoption through a conservation program but not for general inventory use, since agroforestry systems can be established without federal assistance. For inventory purposes, the 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture was found to be the most comprehensive dataset, with 30,853 farm operations reporting agroforestry use, representing 1.5% of all U.S. farms. However, this value is likely an underestimate, due to respondent unfamiliarity with agroforestry terminology. We propose several strategies to improve the accuracy of future agroforestry surveys, since a greater understanding of agroforestry adoption will influence decisions related to agricultural policies, technical assistance, and planning of these integrated systems.

Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees, forage, and grazing livestock on the same piece of land. These agroecosystems are intensively managed for multiple benefits, providing both short- and long-term income. Research suggests that silvopasture systems can increase systemwide productivity, while providing multiple ecosystem services. Due to these benefits, silvopasture adoption is increasing across the United States of America (USA), as described in regional case studies exploring silvopasture adoption. However, most of these case studies have a limited sample size, making it difficult to assess broader trends that help or hinder silvopasture adoption. To address this issue, we conducted a systematic review of silvopasture adoption studies in the USA. Our key objectives were to understand the primary benefits and challenges reported by producers using silvopasture, assess how satisfied producers are with their silvopasture systems, and understand how agricultural and natural resource professionals view silvopasture management. In total, 53 studies from 1983 to 2021 related to silvopasture adoption were included. When analyzed collectively, diversification of farm income and shade for livestock were the primary benefits of implementing silvopasture. This was similar to benefits reported from international studies that were compared. Regarding challenges, lack of information was identified as a primary concern by producers. Producers reported using a wide range of livestock that included cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, horses, bison, pigs, geese, and ducks. Results indicate that producers almost exclusively use some form of rotational or management intensive grazing in their silvopasture systems, with 98% using one of these practices. Furthermore, 96% of producers reported using silvopasture in combination with paddocks in open pasture, suggesting that silvopastures are primarily used as a complementary component of their pasture rotation system. Silvopasture retention was also found to be high across studies, with 88% of producers indicating they would continue the practice into the future. With increasing interest to diversify agricultural management under the uncertainty of a changing climate and the need for agricultural landscapes to sequester more carbon, silvopasture may be an effective strategy for some livestock operators to diversify farm income, enhance animal productivity and wellbeing, and increase ecosystem resilience.

All 50 states offer preferential property tax programs that lower the taxes paid on enrolled agricultural and/or forest lands. While agroforestry is a land-use that combines elements of both agriculture and forestry, eligibility criteria and other rules and regulations may prevent landowners from enrolling agroforestry practices in one or more of the agricultural and forestry tax programs. This pilot-scale study developed conceptual and methodological frameworks to identify the current barriers to and opportunities in preferential tax policies applicable to agroforestry practices. We conducted an extensive review of state preferential property tax programs relevant for agroforestry practices, following focus group discussions with regional experts in five selected states across the United States: North Carolina, Nebraska, Wisconsin, New York, and Oregon. Based on a systematic review of statutes and their supporting documents, we developed a database of programs, which support or create barriers to enrollment of agroforestry practitioners into the programs. We found that agricultural tax assessments were more likely to favor multi-use agriculture and forestry systems than the preferential tax assessments of forestlands in the five states. Forest farming and silvopasture, followed by alley cropping, windbreaks, and riparian forest buffers, were found to be the most common agroforestry practices allowed under preferential tax classifications in the study states. This study provides a framework for cataloging and analyzing preferential property tax-programs to document barriers and facilitators to agroforestry practices in the United States.

Windbreaks are an agroforestry practice used to provide simultaneous economic, environmental and social benefits that occur when trees are deliberately integrated into an agroecosystem. To date, no systematic review has been conducted on windbreak adoption in the U.S., which is needed to assess whether broader trends exist that may affect future research, extension delivery and policy development. This synthesis covers windbreak adoption studies in the U.S. from the earliest identified study in 1949 through 2020. A key finding from this synthesis is that producers use windbreaks on agricultural lands mostly for indirect economic benefits (soil erosion control, livestock protection, wind protection and snow control). This is followed by direct agricultural benefits (increased crop and livestock production) and intrinsic values (aesthetics and wildlife habitat). Direct economic benefits from forestry (timber and non-timber forest products) were often ranked last, despite most producers utilizing their windbreak trees for some economic gain. Windbreak satisfaction was also found to be high among U.S. producers (72–99%), with the beneficial functions varying by windbreak type (field, livestock, and farmstead). The main drivers causing producers to remove windbreaks were poor condition, age, and conflict with farming practices, while the primary reasons for non-adoption of windbreaks were lack of land and windbreak upkeep. Key information gaps needing further investigation include a greater understanding of producer-reported challenges and management activities associated with windbreak planting and maintenance, identifying and monetizing windbreak systems capable of producing marketable products, and valuation of ecosystem services provided by windbreaks over space and time and the potential for developing those markets.

This study investigates the knowledge and perception of smallholder cocoa farmers on the potential impacts of climate change on cocoa production in Ghana. It addresses opinions on the inclusion of climate change mitigation strategies (such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest DegradationREDD+) into cocoa production, and potential obstacles and roles of stakeholders in ensuring community acceptance of such strategies in a unique multiple land use areathe Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve. Data from the Ghana Meteorological Agency and through survey of 205 cocoa farmers were assessed with Mann-Kendall, Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Farmers' perceptions of changes in climate were notably diverse and did not always match historic weather data, but accurately described increases in temperature and drought which are linked to cocoa productivity. Farmers appreciate the importance of tree maintenance for ecosystem services but were skeptical of financially rewarding climate change strategies which favor tree protection. Cultural practices associated with cocoa production encourage carbon release and may pose a threat to the objectives of REDD+. Farmers' experience on the land, interactions with other farmers, government extension agents and cocoa buyers all influence cocoa agroforestry practices in the area, and communication through existing entities (particularly extension agents) presents a pathway to community acceptance of climate change mitigation strategies. The study recommends reforms in REDD+ strategies to adopt flexible and participatory frameworks to facilitate adoption and acceptability due to pronounced heterogeneity in community perceptions and knowledge of climate change and related issues.

Over the past 30 years, ownership changes in the United States have affected more than 50 million acres of timberland. Corporations in the U.S. forest products industry either sold off most of their timberland or restructured themselves to take advantage of changes in the tax code. These changes were the result of broader economic shifts in the U.S. economy related to the process of financialization. As a result, ownership of timberland has been separated from manufacturing capacity tied to the production from that land. The central questions we address are how have these changes in ownership affected management of timberlands and what impacts have been experienced by people and places dependent upon this resource for their livelihoods. This study focuses on Alabama, one of the nation's leading states in the production of wood‐based products. The study is based on 40 formal semistructured interviews with key actors in the industry, and frequent informal interactions with residents in timber‐dependent regions throughout the state. Our research suggests that there have been significant changes, but that these are not necessarily catastrophic and are in keeping with longer‐term trends associated with absentee ownership.