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AFTA Publications
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March, 2005 AGROFORESTRY NEWSLINE >>> March, 2005 News of the science and practice of temperate agroforestry in North America, brought to you by the Association for Temperate Agroforestry (AFTA). IN THIS EDITION:
AFTA Seeks New Team Members To improve its output of agroforestry information and sustain its nonprofit activities, AFTA is seeking individual team members and/or institutional partners to fill several part-time positions, both paid and volunteer. These include Editor, Webmaster, Information Assistant, Sales Manager, Member Services Manager and Development Officer. AFTA is looking for people in the US and Canada interested in agroforestry who have time and the necessary skills, and who would like to be a part of our effort to promote temperate agroforestry through educational activities. Full descriptions of these positions are posted on the AFTA website at the link above. For more information or to apply, please contact Miles Merwin, Editor, editor@aftaweb.org. Agroforestry Policy White Paper A white paper is currently being drafted in preparation for AFTA's June conference, focusing on policy recommendations for promoting temperate agroforestry. The goal of the paper is to document the many benefits of temperate agroforestry, explore some of the obstacles to its adoption, and recommend policies to promote the use of agroforestry systems in working landscapes. The draft paper will be discussed and finalized at this summer's AFTA conference, and will be used to promote the inclusion and support of agroforestry-friendly policies, especially in the 2007 Farm Bill. If you have any questions about this effort or would like to contribute data, text, or editing, please contact Nadine Lehrer lehr0037@umn.edu or Dean Current curre002@umn.edu at the University of Minnesota. Multifunctional Agriculture Results of a paired-watershed study in Minnesota recently published in the journal Bioscience showed that both net farm income and environmental benefits (e.g. water quality, erosion control, wildlife) increased under land use scenarios with greater crop diversity and more perennial vegetation compared to conventional corn and soybean agriculture. These scenarios included wide riparian buffers, wetland restoration, perennial crops and managed intensive rotational grazing. Lower commodity payments would be partially offset by enrollment of buffers into CRP. The authors suggest that rather than support commodity production, US farm policy should support agricultural diversification which can create more environmental benefits at lower public cost. The article [Boody, G., et al., 2005, Multifunctional agriculture in the United States, Bioscience 55(1):27-38] is available on the Land Stewardship Project website. Direct Marketing and Small Farm Viability The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food System at UC Santa Cruz recently published a manual titled Teaching Direct Marketing and Small Farm Viability: Resources for Instructors. The information will be relevant to those trying to market specialty products from agroforestry practices. The manual is organized into six units, three focusing on marketing and three covering other topics related to making a small farm economically viable. Topics include running a CSA project, selling at farmers' markets, forming collaborative marketing groups and grower cooperatives, and selling to restaurants. Also covered are strategies to improve small farm planning, including enterprise visioning and market assessment; creating a business plan, including marketing and crop plans; and managing cash flow. Ginseng, Goldenseal and Other Native Roots A new publication on American ginseng (and related species), goldenseal, and other medicinal roots is available from the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, a program of the National Center for Appropriate Technology. This publication discusses marketing and production of ginseng and Panax relatives, goldenseal, blue and black cohosh. Much of the commercial production of these medicinal herbs has been consolidated overseas, according to the report. Black Walnut Cultivar Database The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center at Purdue University has posted a database of black walnut (Juglans nigra) cultivars - almost 900 in all. Visit the home page for Keith Woeste, molecular geneticist at HTIRC, for related information about the database. The mission of the HTIRC includes the development and dissemination of knowledge related to the improvement of the genetic quality of hardwoods, the conservation of fine hardwood germplasm, the restoration and regeneration of sustainable hardwood forests and riparian zones and the maintenance of diverse ecosystems. Conservation Innovation Grants USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has issued a request for proposals to compete for up to $15 million in fiscal year 2005 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Grants are intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production State, tribal, and local governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, and individuals may apply. Five natural resource areas are eligible for 2005: Water Resources, Soil Resources, Atmospheric Resources (including carbon), Grazing Lands and Forest Health, and Wildlife Habitat. Proposals are due by March 28, 2005. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks to the following correspondents and sources for the information they contributed this month: Nadine Lehrer, ATTRA, FAO NWFP-Digest-L, Hort Ideas, Land Stewardship Project, NACD. YOU CAN HELP Please tell us about agroforestry-related news from your area or institution. We welcome your contributions of photos and/or news about useful information sources (in print and online), education and training opportunities, research or demonstration projects, success stories, etc. For submission guidelines, please visit www.aftaweb.org/resources1.php?page=47. Contact the Newsline editor by e-mailing editor@aftaweb.org. SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the Agroforestry Newsline: www.aftaweb.org/resources1.php?page=7 |
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