Agroforestry in practice
An introduction to using trees and hedgerows in your farming system
In the second of our series on agroforestry, we hear from Edd Colbert of Agroforestry Design.
Edd has lived and worked in the UK, Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, in a variety of roles to support agroecological transitions.
He specialises in working with farmers, foresters and funders to design effective agroforestry systems.
Edd is also a key actor in the UK's agroforestry movement having organised the first Agroforestry Show, hosted by the Soil Association and Woodland Trust for the first time in Wiltshire last year.
Edd Colbert
He was one of the expert panel who joined us for our webinar: An introduction to agroforestry in January.
You can watch the full webinar below, which also features Dr Allen Williams, from our mentoring partner Understanding Ag, and Peter Leeson, woodland creation adviser for The Woodland Trust.
Know your agroforestry objective
“I like to think about agroforestry, not as an individual tool, but rather as a toolbox,” says Edd.
“The reason for that is there are so many different types, depending on the different systems we're working with and the location of the farm as well.
“The key thing with any intervention on a farm, whether it's agroforestry or not, is to really understand why you're doing it and to have a clear objective or objectives in mind.
“You need to think about where it might be on the farm, whether it's within a field or on the edges of a field and the orientation of the tree lines or blocks of trees.
“Then, begin thinking about what exactly that pattern is going to be; the spacing of the trees, the density, species in certain aspects or different varieties within a species range.
"There's a bit of a back and forth process between understanding clearly what your objectives are, beginning to think about where you're going to place those trees on the farm and then getting into the finer details of the various design parameters and specific species.
“You can then go into thinking about establishment plans and protection plans and how you are going to integrate these trees with livestock and with wild mammals that might have a predatory effect on the trees.
“Then finally, ask yourself, when are you going to do it and with who? What timelines are you going to be working towards? Are you going to be establishing and managing these trees in house or working with contractors? Make sure you really plan far enough ahead.
“In the UK, we're increasingly seeing a reduction in the supply of trees available. So it's really important to be thinking at least 10 or 11 months ahead of the following year's planting season, ideally even further ahead if possible.
Opportunities and challenges
“There are two key questions that are really worth asking.
“The first is, what are the opportunities that you're trying to unlock? It might be diversification on the farm or economic resilience, it might be production of woody biomass. Maybe you want to offset on-farm costs around heating or energy supply, fencing or wood chip for bedding.
"The second is, what are the challenges you're trying to overcome?
“Some of the challenges could include increasing climate volatility and effects, not just on livestock, but also on crops from exposure to much hotter summers, more wind, more erratic weather conditions and unpredictable rainfall.
“It might be that you're trying to overcome mortality issues or sickness in livestock, pests and disease, or increasing input costs on the farm.
“Really understanding what your top three, or maximum top five objectives are, will help design a system that is going to help you achieve them.
Working with different agroforestry systems
“For different systems you will have to ask a range of different questions.
“If you are considering using alley cropping you will have to think about your machinery widths, if you’re mechanised, and the minimum widths you need.
“You’ll also have to think about what machinery you might use in the future.
“Are you likely to increase the size of your machines? Or may you actually begin to shrink down the machinery that you're using on the site? It’s about trying to future proof the farming system by having the most flexible design possible.
"You might also consider different types of fruit varieties and rootstock you want to choose, whether it’s dwarfing varieties all the way through to much larger varieties.
“Your decision is going to be based on the timeframes you're working to, how quickly you want fruit and what varieties of fruit you're looking for, as well as the management styles and techniques you want to use and also things like how much shade is going to impact the crops you're working with.
Orientation of trees
“You may hear from a lot of agroforesters about the need to really think carefully about orientation. This is certainly true in terms of arable and horticulture crops, where opting for a north south orientation to tree lines maximises light exposure throughout the day.
“When it comes to silvopasture alleys, this is slightly less of an issue.
“Grass does seem to grow fairly well in some degree of shade. And of course, you're going to be thinking about designing systems to actually maximise shade or wind reduction for livestock.
“So your orientation in that regard is going to be moving more toward or against the prevailing wind in the area you’re working in.
“You might have to try and think about two different systems. For example, optimising the system for fruit trees so there is the space for them to be pruned and managed, but making sure they are not affected negatively by any stock grazing underneath.
“Here, you've got a great opportunity to stack the use of your fencing as both a tree protection mechanism and livestock management tool, particularly for those of you who are practising cell grazing with electric fencing.
Agroforestry on hills and steeper ground
“If you’re farming on more undulating topography and hillsides, contour planting can be really useful and trying to work with the natural form of the land to reduce runoff, reduce soil erosion and really try to slow the flow of water across the landscape.
Integrating livestock into agroforestry
"When we start thinking about things like wood pasture or bringing our livestock into the woodland, we need to start thinking about different components, like mechanisation and the movement of the animals.
“Particularly in the woodland, we need to think about the health of existing trees and make sure that we're not over grazing these landscapes which can be incredibly sensitive.
Hedgerows and agroforestry
"As a farmer, if you have hedgerows, I would already class you as an agroforester.
“Sometimes it's just as important to think about these hedges and edges to understand whether or not you're really getting the value you could be from those systems.
“It might be that they can be extended into shelter belts to provide even more shelter. It could be that fruiting trees can be added to them to provide additional productivity on the land. Around waterways it could be possible to extend hedges or natural regeneration into larger buffer areas.”
In January, the Government published payment rates for farmers undertaking in-field agroforestry schemes on their land.
Regenerate Outcomes works together with Edd Colbert to integrate trees and hedgerows into farming systems. If you’re interested in learning more you can get in touch here.
Grow profit from soil
Regenerate Outcomes works with farmers to increase profitability by improving soil health.
In May we will be hosting the first soil academies held by our mentoring partner Understanding Ag in Great Britain.
Join us at Farm Ed, in Oxfordshire, on May 13 and May 14 and Nafferton Farm, Northumberland, on May 16 and May 17.
The academies will focus on:
Increasing farm profitability by improving soil, plant, and animal health
Taking control by reducing reliance on subsidies and inputs
Increasing resilience to changing weather and the economy
How to carry out and interpret soil health tests
How to improve field observational skills
The academies are free to attend for Regenerate Outcomes’ member farms, and £125 for non-member farms.
Lunch and hot drinks will be provided throughout the day at both events, with dinner available to purchase separately on the first evening.