Working Trees Could Add To our Profit Margin

 by Tim Albritton, State Staff Forester, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Auburn, AL

Diversification is the name of the game. One expansion concept that Alabama cattle producers might consider is silvopasture. Private cattle producers and forest landowners who combine timber, forage, and livestock into one production system increase the benefits they might receive from their land compared to management for just one of these commodities. This intentionally integrated and intensively managed system, known as silvopasture, can diversify revenue, enhance environmental benefits, and boost aesthetics of agricultural or forestry operations.

For years, Alabama cattle producers have allowed cattle to graze in woodlots. Woodlot grazing relies on native forages, where there may or may not be any real forage available to the cattle—the cattle are just allowed to glean the existing vegetation. Silvopasture, on the other hand, is different from woodlot grazing in that the land is intensively managed for both improved forage and timber.

Establishing a silvopasture system requires a number of management steps depending on previous land use. Perhaps the easiest way to start the system is to plant trees in an existing improved pasture. Another possible scenario is to thin an existing pine plantation and establish forage species among the remaining trees. A third option is to convert cropland to silvopasture and plant both trees and forage crops.

Silvopastures can be established on any land capable of simultaneously supporting tree and forage growth. No matter how the land was previously used, there are several common considerations to be determined in establishing a silvopasture system.

When making tree and forage crop selections, consider potential market for the timber, the soil type (will the selected trees perform well in the soil), climatic conditions, and species compatibility. Selected trees should be species that are marketable, high quality, fast growing, and deep-rooted. Consider the planting/harvest patterns. Select and use trees and planting/harvesting patterns that are suitable for the site, compatible with planned silvopasture practices, and provide desired economic and environmental returns.

Establishing a silvopasture system within a timber operation can be convenient and effective. For some Alabama timber producers, a typical timber management cycle involves site disturbance prior to replanting after a clearcut. This may be a good opportunity to convert the land to silvopasture.

The forage component of the silvopasture system should be a perennial crop that is suitable for livestock grazing or haying, compatible with the site (soil, temperature, precipitation), productive under partial shade and moisture stress, and responsive to intensive management.

Silvopasture provides multiple benefits to landowners. If managed properly, trees in a livestock operation can reduce stress on the cattle, while at the same time allow adequate forage production. Furthermore, by adding trees to forage systems, a landowner can receive additional income on the same land from timber products, Christmas trees, nut/fruit crops, or commercial wildlife or recreational opportunities.

Wildlife habitat is a benefit that Alabama landowners should not overlook. Minor modification can be made to silvopasture management to greatly improve its value for wildlife, while still retaining most of the timber and forage production potential.

A side benefit to a silvopasture system is aesthetics. A well maintained silvopasture system is very pleasing to the eye. It’s a pretty sight to see cattle grazing amidst a well-managed stand of pine.

Silvopasture is an alternative concept for a producer who primarily focuses on either cattle or timber. One might think of the concept as working trees. A silvopasture system uses the same land to produce both forest and agricultural products, while at the same time conserving natural resources. Using working trees simply means planting the right trees, in the right place, and in the right design to get a specific job done. “A successful silvopasture system requires understanding forage growth characteristics and managing the timing and duration of grazing to avoid browsing of young tree seedlings,” says Eddie Jolley, Agronomist with USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “Light is a key component. Both trees and forage need adequate light to thrive. In a silvopasture system, the trees are planted in rows and pruned. Pruning accomplishes two benefits—it allows adequate light for forage growth and it helps create high quality sawlogs. The space between the rows is then intensely managed as pasture for the cattle. Any good cattle producer is used to managing the forage. Silvopasture adds one more potential economic advantage to that management concept.”

Jolley says, “The key to improved cash flow of silvopastures is the annual income derived from forage and livestock, which supplements long-term, periodic income from timber sales. The goal in silvopasture systems is to optimize production of all three components— forage, cattle, and timber—rather than maximize on only one product.”

According to Zona Beaty, NRCS coordinator of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), “Cost share assistance through the EQIP program is available to encourage producers to install silvopasture systems. Funds are available for all scenarios—help with tree planting, grass planting, cross fencing, and livestock watering systems to convert cropland, plantation, or pasture to a silvopasture system.”

A silvopasture system could become an important economic component for your cattle operation. Contact your local USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service office for assistance in helping you develop a management plan to meet your objectives.

< Back to Feature Stories