Cows and Conifers: Silvopasture Fundamentals

SANFORD, N.C. - Members from the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of North Carolina (N.C) recently attended a silvopasture training hosted by Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD). The training, "Silvopasture Fundamentals," is a part of agroforestry trainings for natural resource professionals offered through ASD.

The day began with classroom instruction, where NRCS employees and extension agents were exposed to examples of silvopasture and its ecological benefits. The afternoon session included a tour of a 20-acre pasture owned by Doug Bullard that began as a tobacco field but has since become a thriving example of a silvopasture. The pasture incorporated loblolly pine trees that were planted diagonally northwest to southeast, which allowed the farmer to maximize the space available. This also gave a chance for the trainees to ask questions and brainstorm on how best to implement the practice and inform future producers.

"Silvopasture, along with the other four USDA recognized agroforestry practices, have been gaining interest from landowners for many years. In addition to meeting many of the state priority resource concerns, it also offers a variety of environmental, social, and economic benefits", said Stesha Warren, Agroforestry Technical Trainer for Appalachian Sustainable Development.

Silvopasture, conservation practice standard (CPS) 381, is defined as a type of agroforestry characterized by the intensive conservation management of trees, compatible forages and livestock, all integrated on the same acreage. What silvopasture is not, a "plant it and leave it" system. Silvopasture is actively managed and designed with intentionality, with the landowner taking on the dual management of both trees and forage over time. The practice itself has several ecological benefits such as providing forage for animals, improving water quality and soil quality, reducing erosion, and improving biological diversity.

The presence of trees also provides essential shade and shelter for livestock, improving their well-being and reducing heat stress, which can in turn lead to lower disease incidence.  Grazing may also reduce the need for additional fertilizer by increasing soil nutrients through recycling nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur.

Economically, integrating trees, forage, and livestock through silvopasture creates a land management system to produce marketable products, simultaneously, maintaining long-term productivity. Risk is reduced because silvopasture offers several products, which typically have an already established market available to producers.

"Silvopasture is type of Agroforestry, if properly managed, offers the benefits of producing trees, forages, and livestock all the same acreage", said Bill Moss, State Grazing Specialist.

There are two ways to establish a silvopasture, one is to plant trees in an already existing pasture at a prescribed rate. Currently, NRCS North Carolina requires tree planting to be at least 200 trees per acre with a maximum of 400 trees to the acre. The other method is removing enough trees to allow adequate light to through the canopy to establish forage. In either case, a Forest Management Plan is required.

Examples of trees that have been in successful silvopasture establishment and managed in the Southeast U.S. include longleaf and loblolly pine. Forages that have been used successfully in silvopasture in the same region include Bahiagrass, tall fescue, and Bermudagrass, along with native grass species.

When converting an existing forest stand to a silvopasture, there are two types of systems that are recommended - selection thinning and row thinning. In selection thinning, travel corridors are cut, and trees are selectively removed, leaving a more natural appearance with trees evenly spaced across the pasture. In row thinning, trees are left in rows or "alleys". In this system, specific trees do not have to be marked, and it is more advantageous to traditional farming equipment.

Silvopasture is offered through the Environmental Quality Incentives program (EQIP). Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers with one-on-one help and financial assistance to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat and mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility.  Silvopasture is just one of hundreds of conservation practices that NRCS offers.

More Information

To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don't have an account, sign up today.

For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.

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