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Eligible Farmers Invited to Apply for Participation in Agroforestry Program

January 16, 2025 | Arlington, VA

A person walks through a field and inspects rows of young trees.
Nature Climate Solution The farmers at Hudson Demonstration Farms practice agroforestry on their land. © Alita Films

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Eligible producers with crop and grazing operations are invited to apply to the Expanding Agroforestry Incentive Payment Program beginning January 31 through March 14, 2025. If selected for participation, producers will receive direct incentive payments to install new agroforestry plantings, thus increasing their income potential while enhancing the environmental outcomes of their operations.

Applications for this cycle will be accepted from producers in 6 regions spanning 30 states. (see map below)

A Town Hall webinar, which will provide an overview of the incentive payment program, will be held on January 22, 2025. Those interested in applying or learning more about the application process and/or the webinar, visit nature.org/Expanding/Agroforestry.  

About the Project
The Expanding Agroforestry Project is one of 141 projects funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative. The Nature Conservancy, the project lead, is working with multiple partners, including six regional leads—Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative, Propagate, Savanna Institute, Tuskegee University, University of Missouri–The Center for Agroforestry, and Virginia Tech University—to manage the project, including coordinating with national partners to expand financing and develop markets for agroforestry commodities.

Map of eastern and midwest United States showing different agroforestry areas, with each state in each area colored according to its associated agroforest region.
Expanding Agroforestry Producers with crop and grazing operations in 6 regions spanning 30 states are eligible to apply to the Expanding Agroforestry Incentive Payment Program. © TNC

Producers selected into the program will be paired with technical assistance providers who will work with them to develop an agroforestry plan for their operation. The incentive payments substantially subsidize the installation costs of new agroforestry plantings, estimated at 75% of installation costs and/or $450 per acre transition incentive. The project is focused on the use of three agroforestry practices: alley cropping, silvopasture and windbreaks.

“Agroforestry offers a unique synergy between agricultural production and environmental stewardship," said Kris Johnson, Ph.D., director of The Nature Conservancy's North America Agriculture program. "By integrating trees into agricultural lands, producers can diversify their income by harvesting valuable commodities like fruits, nuts and timber, while still maintaining productive farmland. This approach not only boosts economic resilience, but also supports regenerative land management.”

“Agroforestry offers a unique synergy between agricultural production and environmental stewardship. By integrating trees into agricultural lands, producers can diversify their income by harvesting valuable commodities like fruits, nuts and timber, while still maintaining productive farmland.

Kris Johnson, Ph.D. director of The Nature Conservancy's North America Agriculture program

A natural climate solution, agroforestry is used by less than 2% of farm operations in the U.S., yet it can sequester 2 to 4 tons of carbon per acre per year in plant biomass. Adding trees to agricultural landscapes can also increase carbon stored in soils and decrease the use of fertilizers, reducing associated greenhouse gas emissions and impacts on water quality.

This project, which includes targeted efforts to increase accessibility and engagement with underserved producers, could eventually spur the adoption of agroforestry practices on tens of millions of acres of U.S. farmlands.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR233A750004G005. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, any reference to specific brands or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for those products or services.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 81 countries and territories (40 by direct conservation impact and 41 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.