BLACKSBURG—A new guide has been published to help farmers and timber owners with limited resources to manage their land economically.

Profitable Farms and Woodlands: A Practical Guide in Agroforestry for Landowners, Farmers and Ranchers was written to assist smaller-scale farmers and woodland owners in the Southeast in adopting best management practices. The free 108-page publication can be downloaded at nac.unl.edu/profitable_farms.pdf.

The guide was prepared by an agroforestry team of research and extension specialists from land grant universities in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agroforestry Center.

It depicts step-by-step methods and principles for developing agroforestry practices such as alley cropping, forest farming, riparian buffer strips, silvopasture and windbreaks. All of those practices can help owners enhance the economic and environmental benefits of their farms and woodlands.

Additionally, the guide provides information on ways to make money with forestland. It contains explanations of how growing medicinal plants or mushrooms or cultivating bee products can help landowners earn extra income.

“I think most of us under-manage our woodlands, so this guide is a good idea,” said Justin Mackay-Smith, a Clarke County forestland owner and member of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Natural Environmental Resources and Forestry Advisory Committee. “If you can use your forestland better, that’s a good thing.”

Andrew Smith, VFBF senior assistant director of governmental relations, said the guide also offers examples on how to expand the use of forestland by growing additional products to meet new and expanded niche markets.

Agroforestry is a unique land management approach for farms, ranches and woodlands that intentionally combines agriculture and forestry to create integrated and sustainable land-use systems.

Contact Smith at 804-290-1021.