Propagate awarded $24.6 Million USDA to Advance Agroforestry & Reforestation for Working Farms in 5 States
$24.6 million RCPP investment from USDA-NRCS brings together leaders in agroforestry and sustainable agriculture to drive water quality improvements and biodiversity on working lands in 5 states on the Mississippi River Basin.
December 4, 2024 — A powerful coalition of sustainable agriculture and agroforestry organizations, led by Propagate, is proud to announce a new investment by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to expand agroforestry and reforestation efforts across the Mississippi River Basin. This multi-year program will enable a team of partners including Virginia Tech, Rodale Institute, Living Carbon, Agroforestry Partners, Williams Forestry, Native Forest Nursery, and more to plant productive trees on 3,500 acres of farmland in 5 key states. These projects will decrease soil erosion, increase water quality and increase biodiversity, contributing to farm resilience and supporting rural economies.
The Mississippi River Basin was chosen for this project because it is a critical water source that suffers from nutrient runoff and sedimentation due to agricultural activities, leading to water quality degradation both locally and in downstream areas like the Gulf of Mexico. This region provides essential habitats for wildlife. It is also an important agricultural hub and a key center of economic productivity. By implementing practices like agroforestry, farms in this area can simultaneously enhance conservation and economic productivity without trading one for another.
The project will address critical conservation challenges, including water quality degradation and loss of biodiversity, through targeted agroforestry practices like alley-cropping, silvopasture, and riparian buffers. These efforts are anticipated to improve water retention, reduce sediment and nutrient runoff, and provide essential habitats for native wildlife on participating farms.
"Alongside our valued partners we are demonstrating the transformative potential of agroforestry to help farmers improve land productivity and address pressing environmental challenges," said Jeremy Kaufman, COO & Co-Founder, Propagate. “This project brings together industry-leading expertise to make agroforestry a viable and profitable practice for more U.S. farms.”
Key Objectives and Expected Impact
The Mississippi River Basin project will enhance biodiversity and boost local economies. Participating farmers will benefit economically through rental payments and the opportunity for long-term income from tree crops & tree benefits to existing operations such as shade for livestock. Throughout the project's duration, it will measure both seasonal and full-time job creation.
Roles of Project Partners
Agroforestry & Reforestation can be challenging and includes risks that prevent adoption. Each partner will play a critical role in reducing those risks by combining funding with expertise in technical assistance, environmental monitoring, and farmer engagement to create a lasting impact in the region.
Propagate: Producer outreach, technical assistance, farm planning and implementation, rental activities, financial management, and outcome monitoring and reporting.
Virginia Tech: Outreach to underserved producers and water quality advisory.
Rodale Institute: Outcome monitoring for water, tree, and soil quality.
Living Carbon: Reforestation planning, implementation, producer outreach and ecological monitoring.
Agroforestry Partners: Farm rental advisory and outreach.
Williams Forestry: Tree planting, protection, and monitoring.
Native Forest Nursery: Nursery stock procurement.
Hill Farms: Farmer to farmer outreach and education
Ohio Land & Cattle: Farmer to farmer outreach and education
“This project is a unique opportunity to bring together a powerful combination of financial and technical support to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges in the Mississippi River Basin by empowering farmers to adopt agroforestry practices,” said Dr. John Munsell, Virginia Tech Forest Management Professor. “Together, we’re building a sustainable model that supports farms to make a more secure transition, creates tangible outcomes and builds foundational community knowledge to scale these practices further.”
A Vision for Scaling Agroforestry Practices in the U.S.
This project showcases how agroforestry can be a practical solution that balances productivity with environmental stewardship. As more U.S. farmers integrate trees into their working lands, the project partners envision agroforestry becoming a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, creating new income streams for farmers and advancing national conservation efforts.
Making Agroforestry Accessible and Achievable
Transitioning any amount of productive farmland to agroforestry is challenging due to financial, technical and educational barriers. Farmers often face high upfront costs and need specialized expertise to integrate trees into their existing systems effectively. Limited access to specialized tools & education, markets for tree products make it difficult for many farmers to adopt agroforestry practices widely.
This program is built to simplify the adoption of agroforestry practices for farmers and landowners by providing comprehensive support at every stage. Through a streamlined process, participating farms will receive financial assistance, technical guidance, and direct assistance with implementation.
Financial Incentives and Land Rental Payments: Selected farms will be able enroll in rental contracts for their farms for agroforestry and reforestation practices.
Technical Assistance and Fully Managed Implementation: Project partners will provide on-the-ground project plans, tree selection, soil and site preparation, tree establishment and maintenance. This tailored guidance helps farmers implement practices suited to their specific land conditions and conservation goals.
Educational Resources and Informational Sessions: Farmers can access workshops, public information sessions, and other educational resources to understand the benefits and logistics of agroforestry. These sessions are designed to answer questions, share best practices, and connect farmers with peers who have successfully integrated trees on their land.
This structure empowers farmers to embrace agroforestry confidently, knowing they have financial, technical, and educational support at each step.
Join us in growing agroforestry & reforestation for U.S. Farms.
Landowners in the Mississippi River Basin, including those in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, and Arkansas, are encouraged to reach out to see if their land qualifies for this initiative. This project offers support for integrating trees into working lands to improve environmental outcomes and enhance farm profitability.
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Propagate is a regenerative agriculture project developer that makes it easy for farmland owners to plant, operate, and monitor agroforestry systems so that they can generate stable sources of income for future generations. Propagate’s farm planning software, technical assistance, and project development services are paired with financing programs to offer a simplified end-to-end solution so that farms can reduce risk while integrating fruit, nut and timber trees with animal or crop farming systems. Propagate’s supports 55,000+ acres of agroforestry, with over 3,000,000 trees & shrubs planned. The company has planted over 200,000 trees in the last 5 years and actively manages over 2,400 commercial acres through its regional agroforestry hubs in NY and KY.
