Profit in Agroforestry

The Center for Agroforestry strives to establish new and profitable crops for Missouri land and forest owners. In addition to market research on supply, demand and pricing potential, the Center's research collaborators at the University of Missouri and across the Midwest are evaluating the production of nut crops, including pecans, chestnuts and black walnuts; medicinal herbs and botanicals, like ginseng and black cohosh; edible forest products including berries and specialty mushrooms; and non-timber products, such as decorative woody florals. Timber values and markets are also being evaluated, as many agroforestry practices yield not only short-term income through value-added products, but valuable lumber and hardwoods as the tree stands mature.

For additional information on specialty mushrooms, wildlflower production, pine straw, value-added lumber production, nut crops and other profitable products produced through agroforestry, request a copy of the Center's Agroforestry DVD.

Pine Straw

• Pine Straw: A New Mulch For Missouri

Decorative Woody Florals

• For rootstock suppliers and growing information, visit the University of Nebraska Extension Forestry Program

Specialty Mushrooms

• Message for Shiitake Mushroom Growers
• Shiitake Cultivation in Midwestern Agroforestry
• "Agroforestry in Action: Growing Shiitake Mushrooms in an Agroforestry Practice"(PDF, 2.9 MB)
• Burgundy Black Truffle Cultivation in an Agroforestry Practice (PDF, 5 MB)

Chestnuts

• Chestnut Publications/Articles
• Chestnut Decision Support Tool (Enable macros when opening Excel)
• Modified Paddock Vacuum Reduces Labor Input for Chinese Chestnut Harvest (published in HortTechnology) (PDF)
• Focus Groups Project for Potential Chestnut Growers. Read the report here. (PDF, 673 KB)
• Chestnut Market Analysis: Producers’ Perspective (PDF, 309 KB)
  2006 Market Directory (PDF, 55 KB)
  The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (UMCA) is conducting research to identify and describe the chestnut (Castanea spp.) product market value chain. Through detailed market research and by organizing events that increase consumer awareness towards chestnuts, UMCA’s goal is to broaden market opportunities for all individuals and businesses in the chestnut marketplace. In 2004, UMCA conducted a nationwide survey of individuals and businesses active in the U.S. chestnut market (nurseries, producers and sellers). The focus of this report is to describe the market from the producers’ perspective.
• The Chestnut Grower, Newsletter of the Chestnut Growers of America
• Agroforestry in Action: Growing Chinese Chestnuts in Missouri (PDF)
• Why Chestnuts? (PDF)
• Learn More about the Annual Missouri Chestnut Roast
• A new, better way to score chestnuts
• Chestnut Recipes
• Information Card for Missouri Chestnut Buyers (PDF)
• Information Card for U.S. Chestnut Buyers (PDF)
• Chestnut Roasting 101 Guidesheet (PDF)
• Oriental Chestnut Gall Wasp Pest Alert
• Chestnut Selling Guide
• Chestnut Cooking Demonstration Video - courtesy of KOMU TV-8’s Pepper and Friends
  (11 MB Windows Media Video)
• How to create an irrigation system for a chestnut orchard
• What are chestnut weevils and how do you keep them out of your chestnuts?
• How to construct a fence to keep deer out of your chestnut orchard

Black Walnuts

• Development of Improved Black Walnut Selections for Use in Agroforestry Practices: The Center for Agroforestry has been working since 1996 to develop black walnut into an orchard crop, striving for identification of the best-suited cultivars for Missouri climate and soils.
• Eastern Black Walnut Decision Support Tool focused on improved nut production (Enable macros when opening Excel)
• Black Walnut Financial Model focused on timber production. Designed to assist potential growers in making decisions about tree spacing, nut harvest, and whether to use improved (grafted) or unimproved trees.
• Flowering and Fruit Characteristics of Black Walnuts: A Tool for Identifying and Selecting Cultivars. This interactive Web site allows you to compare two actual walnuts side by side by cultivar. In addition, a chart featuring the growth characteristics of selected black walnut cultivars is available. This site will aid growers in choosing the right cultivars for their orchard.
• Agroforestry in Action: Growing Black Walnut for Nut Production (PDF)
• Why Black Walnuts? (PDF)
• Agroforestry in Action: Propagating Pecan and Black Walnut in Missouri" (PDF)
• Buy Missouri-grown black walnuts at http://www.black-walnuts.com!
  HAMMONS PRODUCTS COMPANY
  105 Hammons Drive
  P.O. Box 140
  Stockton, MO 65785
  Phone: 1-(888)-4BWNUTS
  Fax: (417) 276-5187

Pecans

• Agroforestry in Action: Growing Pecans in Missouri (PDF)
• Why Pecans? (PDF)
• Agroforestry in Action: Propagating Pecan and Black Walnut in Missouri (PDF)
• A Double Row System for Establishing Pecans: A guide by Bill Reid, Pecan Experiment Field, Kansas State University, and adjunct associate professor, UMCA (PDF)
• Buy locally produced pecans at http://www.mopecans.com!
  Missouri Northern Pecan Growers, LLC
  Highway 71 North 3400 Industrial Parkway
  Nevada, MO 64772
  417-667-3501
  Toll FREE 1-866-PECANS8

Pawpaw

• Pawpaws Production Trial and After-Purchase Survey (PDF, 407 KB)
• Information Card for Pawpaw Buyers (PDF, 3.01 MB)

Ginseng

• The Center for Agroforestry is evaluating the cultivation of simulated ginseng in Missouri, a potentially high-value forest farming crop.
• Visit American Botanicals for information on growing and marketing botanical plants.

Black Cohosh

• Developing Nut, Fruit, and Herb Production for Midwestern Farmers through Agroforestry: Black Cohosh

Elderberry

• Elderberry Symposium Proceedings (PDF)
• Elderberry: A Versatile, Easily-grown Shrub for the Midwest
• Elderberry Financial Decision Support Tool
• Elderberry Market Research Report (PDF)
• Elderberry Market Directory - March 2011 (PDF)
• Agroforestry in Action: Growing and Marketing Elderberries in Missouri (PDF)
• Elderberry Winemaking Workshop Video: Part I | Part II

Eastern Redcedar

• Eastern Redcedar Market Analysis
• Workshop Proceedings: Redcedar - Challenge or Opportunity (PDF) (Springfield, Mo. , Aug. 9-11, 2007)

Timber Prices

• Visit the Missouri Department of Agriculture for current information.
• Missouri Consulting Foresters Association
• The Missouri Department of Conservation offers publications about timber harvesting and the quarterly timber price trends report.
• Missouri Timber Prices tracks market prices for Stumpage and Delivered Logs in Missouri. Information provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Foresters and private consulting foresters.

Marketing Specialty Timber Products

• Paul Easley - Sawing for the Niche Market Place

• Tax Considerations for the Establishment of Agroforestry Practices (PDF)

• Economic Budgeting For Agroforestry Practices (PDF)