Copyright (c) 2013 University of Nebraska - Lincoln All rights reserved. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees Recent documents in Working Trees (USDA-NAC) en-us Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:09:58 PST 3600 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/13 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/13 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:24:59 PDT Water is a precious national resource. Often, human activities degrade the quality of the water in the streams, lakes, estuaries, wetlands, and aquifiers on which we depend. Pollutants from agricultural and urban sources have made many of our waters unsuitable for swimming and fishing. Excessive sedimentation, pesticides, and fertilizers are harming fish and other aquatic life. Changes in land use also have had a dramatic effect on floodwater damage and frequency. Both surface and subsurfaceAgroforestry drinking water supplies are being impacted by human activities.

Water quality is the end result of the individual actions of all the “neighbors” in a watershed. Rural landowners and community residents need to look beyond their own boundaries to improve water quality and coordinate water resource management.

Working Trees can help alleviate water quality and quantity problems. From upland areas down to the water’s edge, Working Trees reduce and slow runoff and trap pollutants in both rural and urban settings.

Working Trees means putting the right trees in the right places, and in the correct design, to do specific jobs. Land managers, community planners, and watershed residents can all use Working Trees to make high quality water a reality.

This brochure illustrates water resource problems and ways that WORKING TREES FOR WATER QUALITY are a part of the solution.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/12 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/12 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:20:05 PDT Sustaining quality wildlife habitat is challenging, especially where agricultural fields offer little plant diversity and in suburban areas where human development has fragmented the landscape.

Increasingly, these areas are managed primarily for people. But, an amazing variety of animals call the same areas home and depend on us to make sure that their needs are met.

Working Trees are trees and shrubs, especially native species, that are in the right place to do a specific job. Whether Working Trees come in the form of a windbreak to enhance crop or livestock production or a riparian forest buffer to filter storm water runoff, they add critical wildlife habitat to the landscape.

The benefits of Working Trees extend far beyond providing food, cover, and nesting sites – all essential wildlife habitat components. Working Trees add diversity and help reconnect the landscape by creating travel corridors for wildlife. But, remember, not all wildlife species are benefited by trees.

Integrating Working Trees onto the land can add a new source of income, improve our environment, conserve natural resources, increase property values, and save time, energy, and water.

Read on to discover how Working Trees support a seemingly endless variety of wildlife, while they enhance property, income, and our lives.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/11 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/11 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:14:54 PDT Excess nutrients and other chemicals from agricultural, municipal, and industrial operations impact surface and ground water quality. Plant science and engineering have combined forces forming a natural partnership between treating waste and growing trees. The technology of putting fast growing trees to work recycling nutrients from solid and liquid waste is available and increasingly being adopted. This waste treatment approach has emerged as an alternative to other more expensive treatment technologies, such as constructed treatment plants.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/10 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/10 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:08:29 PDT Silvopasture integrates trees, livestock, and forage into a single system on one site.

These components diversify income sources. Annual income from grazing and long-term profits from trees respond to different market pressures and reduce risk when combined in the same operation.

Shade from the trees lengthens the forage growing season and improves forage quality. It also increases the comfort level for livestock which reduces stress.

The structure and plant diversity of silvopastures is attractive to many wildlife species including wild turkey, quail, deer, and many songbirds.

Silvopastures are inherently sustainable systems. They increase biological diversity, protect water quality, reduce soil erosion, and improve the water holding capacity of the soil.

Other benefits include natural insect control, opportunities for recreational activities like hunting and bird watching, and enhanced aesthetics and property values.

Silvopasture is becoming an important land-management strategy on many farms and ranches in the southeastern United States. It is becoming more important on farms and ranches where coniferous trees exist in other parts of the country as well.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/9 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/9 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:05:38 PDT Éstos son, árboles que se utilizan en conservación y sistemas de producción en fincas y ranchos. Estos árboles tienen un trabajo que realizar, sea aumentar los ingresos, proteger los recursos naturales o hacernos disfrutar un poco más de nuestras vidas. “Árboles trabajando” es un lema usado para promover la ciencia y práctica de la agroforestería. Agroforestería es un término que agricultores y dasónomos han definido para incluir la mayoría de las prácticas en las que se integran árboles y arbustos de forma intencional junto con un cultivo, forraje u operaciones de ganadería. Prácticas tales como rompevientos, bosques ribereños de amortiguamiento, siembra en callejones, cultivos en el bosque y silvicultura, utilizan el mismo predio de terreno para producir ambas cosas; productos foretales y productos agrícolas, mientras se conservan los recursos naturales. La utilización de árboles simplemente significa sembrar las especies de árboles idóneas en el lugar correcto, en la temporada correcta y en un patrón de siembra apropiado para obtener los objetivos deseados.

Silvicultura es la integración de árboles en operaciones ganaderas. Silvicultura provee beneficios multiples a los dueños de tierras. Cuando se administran adecuadamente los árboles en una operación ganadera, pueden ayudar a reducir el estrés del ganado a la vez que mantienen un forraje en producción. Además de ésto, la incorporación de árboles a sistemas de forrajes ofrece al ganadero un ingreso adicional por productos forestales. Entre éstos productos podemos mencionar: árboles de navidad, nueces o árboles frutales, o productos de vida silvestre y oportunidades recreativas.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/8 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/8 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:01:25 PDT Como creencia general del pasado, se pensaba que los árboles y los animales no podian co-existir en un mismo predio de terreno. En la actualidad, la agricultura moderna está mostrando que los animales y los árboles no tan solo pueden co-existir sino que pueden proveer una fuente adicional de ingresos en tierras anteriormente utilizadas en monocultivos.

Los árboles pueden proveer protección de vientos fríos y climas adversos al ganado, además de proveerles sombra. Si es deseo del usuario de tierras también puede cosechar maderas o frutos.

Ésta publicación le describirá algunas formas específicas en las que usted y su tierra pueden beneficiarse cuando combinamos árboles para trabajar en beneficio del ganado.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/7 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/7 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:57:13 PDT Working Trees protect livestock from the stressful effects of winter and offer relief in the summer. They can also create diversified income opportunities.

Conventional wisdom in the past has been that livestock and trees can’t co-exist. Yet moderm agricultural practice is showing their livestock and trees not only can co-exist, but, if properly managed, can provide additional income from land formerly used for a single crop.

Trees can provide livestock with protection from cold wind and blowing snow in winter, as well as from the hot sun and drying winds of summer. And, if commercially desirable timber or nut trees are planted, landowners can enjoy significant additional income from this diverse use of their land.

This publication will acquaint you with some of the specific ways you and your land can benefit by putting trees to work for your livestock.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/6 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/6 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:50:35 PDT The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) has been hailed as the single most significant commitment toward conservation on private lands in the Nation's history. Landowners can benefit from a portfolio of voluntary services. The conservation provisions can assist farmers and ranchers in meeting environmental and production challenges on their land. This legislation modifies existing programs and creates some new programs. The 2002 Farm Bill provides many opportunitiesy to enhance the long-term quality of our environment and the conservation of our natural resources.

Agroforestry has come a long way in the United States in the last 20 years and the 2002 Farm Bill provides an increased level of recognition of and support for agroforestry. A greater number of conservation programs, both public and private, now include cost sharing, incentive and maintenance payments, and rental rates for agroforestry practices. The financial success of most agroforestry practices does not depend on cost share programs. However, some agroforestry practices provide conservation benefits that extend far beyond the property line. Many Farm Bill programs provide economic incentives for this kind of good stewardship.

Although there are more funding programs than described in this flyer, those listed represent federal sources with the greatest application to agroforestry.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/5 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/5 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:46:51 PDT Windbreaks are used throughout the U.S. to accomplish a multitude of objectives. Among these are the reduction of water stress to improve crop yield and quality, reduction of soil erosion, snow management, livestock protection and odor control, provision of wildlife habitat, and energy conservation around farmsteads.

If society is looking for places to store carbon, windbreaks are an obvious choice. Since a large number of landowners already appreciate the value of a windbreak for the many benefits listed above, many would be interested in discussing ways to get financial assistance for planting and maintaining a windbreak that was also designed to optimize carbon storage. The fact that many landowners have been motivated to establish windbreaks for their own purposes, suggests that these plantings would remain in place on the ground for a long time. While windbreaks are used for various purposes throughout the U.S., the following scenarios describe the potential for carbon storage in windbreaks in the North Central region. Due to the extensive agricultural land base in the North Central region, large amounts of carbon can be stored by integrating more windbreak plantings into the agricultural landscape.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/4 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/4 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:43:23 PDT Carbon based energy sources like coal, gas, and oil all originated from the conversion of sunlight energy by plants. A dominant consideration for rebalancing the global carbon cycle is to find ways to promote the increased growth of trees and shrubs. Agricultural activities occur on approximately half of the land in the contiguous U.S., so much of the opportunity to store carbon through afforestation will occur on farms and ranches.

Agroforestry does not convert agricultural land to forests, but rather leaves land in production agriculture, while integrating trees into farm and ranch operations to accomplish economic, environmental, and social goals. Several agroforestry practices can lead to substantial storage of carbon and removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/3 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/3 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:38:42 PDT Working Trees for Communities is the adaptation of agroforestry technologies to assist communities of all sizes achieve environmental, social, and economic goals, especially at the rural/urban interface.

Today, communities are challenged with accommodating new growth while maintaining the integrity of existing neighborhoods. Accommodating health, safety, transportation, quality of life, economics, environmental quality, and infrastructure development can often lead to land use conflicts. Compromises are often needed to achieve a workable plan.

Today, community residents, businesses, rural landowners, and local leaders must look beyond their own backyards. What is done by one resident or business can affect the community and the watershed. The cumulative effects of many individual actions can have significant impact on the overall landscape.

WORKING TREES FOR COMMUNITIES are proven agroforestry technologies that are being adapted to meet community needs. When properly placed, Working Trees provide benefits to the environment and to people living in and around the community. Trees clean the air and water, provide protection from the wind, improve the view from our homes, and provide a cool place on a hot day. Working Trees create green space that provides recreational and educational opportunities. They provide food, shelter, and travel corridors for wildlife. Trees along streams cool the water, provide food for stream organisms, add structure to the stream channel, and stabilize streambanks. A planned system unites the community and the surrounding landscape by way of Working Trees.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/2 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/2 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:34:31 PDT Imagine por un momento que en su finca usted cuenta con un producto capaz de controlar la erosión, aumentar el rendimiento de las cosechas y absorber los contaminantes en aguas de escorrentía. ¿Y que le parece si además pudiera proteger a los animales de fuertes vientos y temperaturas críticas, a la vez que éstos animales aumentan de peso y reducen los gastos de energía? Un producto que provea fuentes adicionales de ingreso y que provea diversidad al medioambiente, mantenga las aguas limpias y atraiga más vida silvestre. Seguramente la mayoría de nosostros correríamos a comprarlo.

Por supuesto un producto como éste no existe, sin embargo, sí existe un nuevo concepto que comparte estos atributos: agroforestería. La agroforestería combina los bosques con la agricultura. Éstos conservan los recursos naturales, el medioambiente, proveen nuevas fuentes de ingreso y ayudan a que los sitemas sean sostenibles mediante las protección que ofrecen a los cultivos y a los animales.

Administrar los árboles para conservación y sistemas de producción en fincas, comunidades y otros, significa sembrar las especies más idóneas para cada lugar, en la época correcta y en un patrón de siembra que favorezca los objetivos deseados. En un sistema agroforestal pueden incorporarse varias prácticas tales como; rompevientos, bosques ribereños de amortiguamiento paralelos a cuerpos de agua, árboles en asociación con pastos, siembras en callejones con cultivos anuales, árboles madereros y cultivos especializados de alto valor económico bajo el dosel o follaje. Para más información sobre prácticas agroforestales vea dentro de este folleto.

La agroforestería puede ser una alternativa exitosa para dueños y usuarios de tierras y para todos los que se preocupan por el bienestar de nuestros suelos y aguas. Ésta provee la oportunidad de balancear productividad y ganancias con el medioambiente y dejar un legado de sistemas agrícolas saludables para el uso de futuras generaciones.

]]> http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/1 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/workingtrees/1 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:28:26 PDT Working Trees help make agricultural systems more sustainable by protecting crops and livestock, conserving natural resources, improving human environments, and providing sources of income.

Putting trees to work in conservation and production systems for farms, ranches, and nearby communities means planting the right trees, in the right places, and in the correct design to achieve desired objectives.

Agroforestry is a unique land management approach for landowners and anyone who cares about working lands and natural resources. Agroforestry practices provide opportunities to integrate productivity and profitability with environmental stewardship and result in healthy and sustainable agricultural systems that can be passed on to future generations.

Agroforestry practices include field, farmstead, and livestock windbreaks; riparian forest buffers along waterways; silvopasture systems with trees and forage growing together for livestock grazing; alley cropping annual crops with high-value trees; forest farming operations where high-value specialty crops are grown under the protection of a managed forest canopy; and a variety of special applications to help manage natural resource issues.

Within a landscape-scale management approach, agroforestry can help to reduce the zone of conflict between rural and urban land uses. Tree-based buffers serve as a zone of transition and help to “reconnect” agriculture and communities, creating a more functional and sustainable landscape.

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