Please note: This is an Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange (ARKx) Farmer/Agroforester Profile. This profile information is provided with permission so that others can see successful stories and learn more about regional agroforestry practice adoption. Please respect privacy and property; contact them directly via public information regarding opportunities to connect.
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Farm Name: Willow Run Farmstead LLC
Farmers: Deanne Boyer
Agroforestry Practices: Silvopasture, Riparian Buffers
Agroforestry Acres: 11.5
Agroforestry Goals: Our farm is interested in planting trees in our pasture with the ultimate goal of continued resilience as we face rising temperatures and increased rainfall. Our farm currently has limited shade access for our livestock during the summer months. This not only makes our cattle uncomfortable and overheated, but also creates damaged pasture spots where cattle group to avoid the heat. This heat stress also translates to loss in gains during the highest heat days. Trees not only would benefit our cattle, but also work to increase our soil’s health and increase our organic matter while keeping our soils cooler during the summer months. Also, our placement of our trees would increase our 5 acre stream buffer an additional 6.5 acres. With the increased flooding in our area, planting more trees in our low lying fields will increase the amount of water our land can retain as well as provide more ability to clean the water as it heads to our water system and streams. Clean water and water retention helps our community downstream, improving drinking water as well as helping to managing flooding.
Agroforestry Trees and Shrubs:
50 Honey Locusts
40 American Persimmons
40 White/Bur Oak Hybrids
6 Basswoods
26 Butternut Hickories
133 Willows and Poplars
The tree rows are 45 feet apart with the trees planted 20 ft apart in the rows.
Project Summary: In Spring of 2023, we planted 285 trees planted in our 3 pasture paddocks for a total of 6.5 acres of silvopasture. At the same time, plantar tree tubes were installed and black mesh was placed around live stake willows and poplars. We also installed a single strand of poly wire along the trees to use them as an existing temporary fence. Later in the summer, we put down a skirt of wood mulch around the base of the tubes to protect the trees from vole damage.
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