Working Trees for Livestock

Authors

Date of this Version

June 2008

Comments

Published by USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC), East Campus – UNL, Lincoln, NE 68583-0822. Website http://www.unl.edu/nac

Abstract

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.