The group met at the Lake Mize Conference Center in the Austin Cary Memorial Forest May 24 to discuss goals of the project and present research projects that are underway.

Project leaders were enthusiastic that this effort to study and develop agroforestry systems will show positive results.

"I have great expectations that this program is going to have significant implications for our state and the Southeast," said Wayne Smith, director of UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, in opening the meeting.

CSTAF, based in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, is partially funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems. CSTAF is comprised of UF staff and researchers from Florida, Georgia, Alabama and the Virgin Islands, and five collaborating institutions including UF. An advisory council helps set the direction of programs.

Over the next four years, CSTAF will develop agroforestry systems for small- to medium-size landowners as well as educate and train landowners to utilize these systems in land management.

Catalino Blanche, National Program Leader in Forest Biology with the USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension Service, said CSTAF’s project was unique among the 874 proposals his office reviewed. Most proposals dealt with forestry topics, while the UF proposal focused on agroforestry -- an integration of forestry and agriculture. Other unique and important elements include:

• benefits for the underserved – the small- and medium-size landowners in the Southeast,

• benefits for a broad region, primarily southeastern United States,

• swine as well as cattle production in agroforestry systems,

• integrated teaching, research and extension.

In CSTAF’s proposal, the strong link between research and extension will make research findings useful to small-scale landowners, Blanche said.

"It was one of the few proposals that addressed multifunction," he said. "It was one of the few proposals that really addressed education."

UF Extension Dean Christine Waddill, in her opening comments at the meeting, said the educational component of the project is critical to creating agroforestry opportunities for landowners. Landowners can learn about opportunities and techniques in agroforestry through publications, county extension faculty, and demonstrations that illustrate the practical application of numerous research projects.

Agroforestry research projects include environmental and economic benefits of agroforestry, livestock in agroforestry systems, data management and support systems, alley cropping, and tree crop integration with horticultural crops.

At the West Florida Research and Education Center in Milton, UF researchers Shibu Jose and Barry Brecke are evaluating combinations of pine and pecan trees in alley cropping systems with cotton, clover, rye grass and Bahiagrass. They will measure the interaction between crops above and below the ground and evaluate crop yield in relation to tree rows. Researchers also want to evaluate the ability of agroforestry systems to reduce groundwater pollution. They hope to develop a model to help predict the effectiveness of agroforestry systems.

In St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Manuel Palada with the University of the Virgin Islands, is studying the integration of medicinal trees with high-value crops. The tree Morinda citrifolia produces a drink that is consumed for medicinal value. Palada is evaluating the use of Morinda citrifolia in alley cropping with hot pepper, thyme, chive and papaya. This combination could help small-scale farmers earn income while trees mature.