Issue Brief
Soil Health Issue Brief
July 28, 2021
Fact Sheet
Agroforestry Fact Sheet
Overview
Agroforestry integrates trees and shrubs into farming systems to deliver environmental, economic, and social benefits. Well‑designed agroforestry systems often yield more than annual crops grown on their own, while improving water quality, soil health, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. For farmers, agroforestry boosts climate resilience, profits, and crop diversification, while improving both seasonal cash flow and long‑term value from timber. States that proactively support agroforestry can improve environmental outcomes while supporting rural economies and farm resilience.
Key Points
Key Point 1
Agroforestry systems show 5-10 times higher carbon sequestration rates than those of practices such as conservation agriculture and managed grazing alone. (Perennial Agriculture Institute)
Key Point 2
Globally, agroforestry systems are practiced on an estimated 43% of cropland, but only 1.7% of U.S. farms practiced agroforestry in 2022. (Scientific Reports)
Key Point 3
Agroforestry provides many cultural benefits, especially in Hawaii and Indigenous communities in the U.S., including intergenerational knowledge transmission, space for ceremony and recreation, and the aesthetic and spiritual value of restored lands. (ResearchGate)
Key Point 4
Challenges preventing the adoption of agroforestry include high establishment costs, long payback periods, difficulty finding markets for products, and few working agroforestry farms to visit in most regions of the U.S. (Savana Institute)
Policy Options:
- Hawaii HRS § 166: Creates agricultural parks that provide long-term leases to experienced and beginning farmers engaging in agriculture, including agroforestry.
- Minnesota HF 1955 (Enacted, 2023): Appropriates $500,000 for grants to support the development of enterprises, supply chains, and markets for continuous-living cover crops and cropping systems in the early stages of commercial development.
- Pennsylvania HB 1132 (Introduced, 2023): Creates the Agroforestry Program and Fund to provide grants to farmers and businesses implementing agroforestry.
- Puerto Rico LPR § 135: Provides tax-exempt status to certain forests in Puerto Rico’s Auxiliary Forests Program, including agroforests.
- Washington SB 5947 (Enacted, 2020): Creates the Sustainable Farms & Fields Program to provide farmers with technical expertise and financial assistance on climate-smart farming practices, including agroforestry.
- Wisconsin SB 692 (Enacted, 2022): Expands the Wisconsin Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to include stormwater control measures and agroforestry.
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