Agroforestry briefs

Eddie Ellis, Ph.D. from UF, 2001, works with the decision-support system subproject that will help determine the choices of appropriate trees and crops for agroforestry systems. Prior to joining CSTAF, he worked on developing agroforestry techniques in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Hector Adegbidi, Ph.D. from SUNY Syracuse, 1999, works with Vimala Nair, a researcher in Soil and Water Science on the subproject to evaluate environmental benefits of agroforestry. He also works with CSTAF Assistant Director Mike Bannister on the program in Haiti. Adegbidi worked with UF silviculturist Eric Jokela testing a model for fertilizing fast-growing loblolly pine plantations prior to joining CSTAF.

CSTAF Presentations
P.K. Nair, Mike Bannister and Sarah Workman attended the Seventh Biennial Conference on Agroforestry in North America in August, where they presented a poster outlining the objectives of CSTAF and a white paper analyzing the potential for agroforestry in the Southeast. Other UF presenters included S.C. Allen, S. Jose, K.H. Lee, and C. Ramsey. The conference, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, was sponsored by the Association for Temperate Agroforestry.

At the annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomists, the Soil Science Society of America and the Crop Science Society of America in Charlotte, N.C., Oct. 21-25, Bannister and Nair presented the poster Center for Subtropical Agroforestry: A New Agroforestry Initiative for Southeastern USA. Bannister also gave an oral presentation on effects of household and plot characteristics on Haitian tree cropping strategy.

Canadian Research
Mike Bannister and Sarah Workman attended a meeting Nov. 15 and 16 at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, to discuss agroforestry opportunities. Saskatchewan’s Centre for Studies in Agriculture, Law and the Environment plans to include agroforestry in its research.