5860200007

IMPROVING RESILIENCE AND DIVERSIFICATION OF SMALL FARMS THROUGH AGROFORESTRY AND SPECIALTY CROPS - THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AGROFORESTRY STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATED INTO SMALL FARM PRODUCTION SYSTEMS TO OPTIMIZE THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY, SOCIAL EQUITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF THESE MULTIFUNCTIONAL WORKING LANDSCAPES. SPECIFICALLY WE WILL (1) IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL GOODS (E.G., PERENNIAL AND ANNUAL SPECIALTY CROPS, LIVESTOCK, FOREST PRODUCTS) AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (E.G., POLLINATOR HABITAT, CARBON SEQUESTRATION) CONSIDERING OPTIMAL PLACEMENT AND SUITABILITY AT FIELD, FARM, AND LANDSCAPE SCALES; (2) DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO INTEGRATE TREES, SHRUBS AND GRAZING LIVESTOCK INTO EXISTING GRASSLANDS, AND ORAGES AND GRAZING LIVESTOCK INTO FOREST STANDS; (3) QUANTIFY THE BENEFITS OF NUTRIENT-DENSE SPECIALTY CROPS INCLUDING BERRY SHRUBS, TREE CROPS, AND MEDICINAL PLANTS TO DIVERSIFY ENTERPRISES AND IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH; (4) EXAMINE IMPLICATIONSOF CONSERVATION PRACTICES DESIGNED TO MANAGE THE FATE AND TRANSPORT OF SEDIMENTS, NUTRIENTS, ANTIBIOTICS, AND PATHOGENS FROM AGRICULTURAL INPUTS INCLUDING SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER, HERBICIDES, AND GRAZING LIVESTOCK MANURE; (5) QUANTIFY MARKET VALUES, CONSUMER PREFERENCES, AND SOCIOECONOMIC INCENTIVES OF INTEGRATED WHOLE-FARM PRODUCTION SYSTEMS; (6) SUPPORT SOCIAL EQUITY THROUGH THE STUDY OF TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE (TEK) AND URBAN FOOD FORESTS; AND (7) DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO FARMERS AND RANCHERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND POLICY MAKERS THROUGH FIELD DAYS, WORKSHOPS, PUBLICATIONS, AND WEB-BASED RESOURCES.

University Of Missouri System

10.001 - Agricultural Research Basic and Applied Research

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) [USDA]

Columbia, Missouri 65211-1020 United States

Single Zip Code

None

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 06/30/21 to 06/30/25 and the total obligations have increased 399% from $959,302 to $4,788,180.