Agroforestry and silvipasture: no matter the weather, cattle and trees go great

together!

“Living barns” provide windbreaks

in winter storms, and shade from summer heat.

Much of the ranch's marginal and sloping land is

planted to trees...

...in 2-foot deep trenches ripped 6 feet apart on the contour.

Loblolly pine makes up the bulk of these plantings.

On its better grazing acres, the ranch plants

trees into rows of mulch formed by

haying and raking.

For the first three years, hay is cut in the wide

strips between rows...

...but cattle are fenced out.

After three years, cattle can graze without damaging the young trees.

The Between the Lakes

agroforestry project is planted in 60-foot rows: five thousand

trees, including loblolly pine,

sycamore, green ash, and black

locust, on 5 acres, and 28

acres of pasture.

The New Fescue agroforesty

project is planted in 90-foot rows: ten thousand

trees, including green ash, bald

cypress, and four species of oak, on 4 acres, and

35 acres of pasture.

Benefits include shelter for cattle...

...and enhanced wildlife habitat.