USDA National Agroforestry Center

USDA National Agroforestry Center
Name	USDA National Agroforestry Center
Founded	1998
Headquarters	Lincoln, Nebraska
Parent organization	United States Department of Agriculture

USDA National Agroforestry Center The USDA National Agroforestry Center operates as a technical arm within the United States Department of Agriculture system focused on integrating silvopasture, alley cropping, riparian buffers, and windbreaks into United States agricultural policy and practice. It collaborates with federal agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, research institutions like University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Iowa State University, and regional partners including the USDA Forest Service and National Association of Conservation Districts to deliver applied science, technical assistance, and outreach.

History

The center was established in 1998 amid initiatives by the USDA Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to formalize agroforestry practice in the United States. Early development drew on precedents from the Civilian Conservation Corps era conservation programs and research platforms at land-grant institutions like Cornell University, University of Minnesota, and Oregon State University. Major milestones include cooperative agreements with the Rocky Mountain Research Station, designation of demonstration sites in the Midwest United States and Great Plains, and integration into USDA technical guides that align with provisions in the Food Security Act of 1985 and programs administered through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Mission and Objectives

The center’s mission aligns with USDA priorities to promote sustainable land management and climate resilience by advancing agroforestry practices across United States landscapes. Key objectives include generating actionable science for practitioners linked to Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation practice standards, informing policy in coordination with the Farm Service Agency, and supporting adaptation measures that connect to national initiatives such as the U.S. Climate Alliance and objectives outlined by the National Climate Assessment.

Programs and Services

The center administers technical assistance, planning tools, and decision-support systems for landowners, conservation professionals, and researchers. Service lines include development of practice standards used by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, publication of technical notes co-authored with USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists, and interactive mapping tools informed by datasets from the National Agricultural Statistics Service and the USGS. The center also facilitates grant-supported projects under partnerships with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and cooperative conservation efforts involving the National Resources Defense Council and regional soil and water conservation districts.

Research and Partnerships

Research priorities address productivity, ecosystem services, and carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems through collaborations with land-grant universities such as Pennsylvania State University, University of Florida, and Texas A&M University. The center partners with federal research entities including the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on climate-smart agriculture assessments. International linkages include exchanges with Food and Agriculture Organization programs, collaborations with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and participation in multi-national research networks that involve institutions like Wageningen University and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Education and Outreach

Education efforts encompass training workshops for employees of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, seminars for extension agents from land-grant universities, and resources for nonprofit partners such as The Nature Conservancy and Sierra Club chapters engaged in restoration. Outreach products include technical fact sheets, webinars co-hosted with the National Agroforestry Center partners at the University of Missouri Extension, and demonstration events at sites affiliated with the National Association of Conservation Districts. The center supports curricula integration with extension programs at universities including Michigan State University and University of California, Davis.

Facilities and Locations

The center is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska with operational ties to USDA facilities and research laboratories across the United States. It leverages demonstration plots and research farms associated with University of Nebraska–Lincoln and collaborates with regional experiment stations such as the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center and the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment-linked projects. Field demonstration networks extend to sites in the Southeastern United States, the Pacific Northwest, and the Northern Plains, coordinated with regional offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and state forestry agencies.

Category:United States Department of Agriculture Category:Agroforestry