Grow Your Edges – Silvopasture Program

Grow Your Edges – Silvopasture Program is sponsored by University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture. This program provides support and financial incentives for Missouri farmers to implement silvopasture systems, which integrate livestock, pasture, and trees.

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edu/crcl_silvopasture/) * Judy Grundler Internship in Regenerative Agriculture * National Cover Crop Variety Project * Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) * Soil Health Information Platform (SHIP) * Heartland Virtual Fence Project * Women Landowners Leading Regeneration * Virtual Fence Grazing Program * No-Till and Reduced Soil Disturbance * Soil Health and Building Soil Carbon * Diversified Cropping and Agroforestry # Missouri CRCL Project – Grow Your Edges ## **Grow Your Edges – Silvopasture** The University of Missouri’s Grow Your Edges program is part of the Missouri CRCL Project that helps farmers implement conservation-smart agricultural practices through direct payments and education.

As part of Grow Your Edges, farmers can receive advice and payments of up to $20-50 per tree (species dependent) to implement silvopasture. Silvopasture integrates livestock, pasture and trees. Incentive payments can be used for planting trees and implementing silvopasture grazing systems.

Questions about the silvopasture program may be directed to Olga Romanova at o. romanova@missouri. edu and Pat Adams at pat.

adams@missouri. edu. General questions may also be sent to the Missouri CRCL Project support email atmocrcl@missouri.

edu. ## Contract structure and payments * Grow Your Edges will pay $20-50 per tree (species dependent). * See specific tree payment rates here * Each farmer can receive up to $10,000 maximum per practice per enrollment period.

* Although the prior $20,000 lifetime cap has been lifted, any producers interested in re-enrolling in the program should consider how they can further improve their management practice beyond what has been done in previous years. * Farmers may receive 50% of their contract amount to help offset start-up costs and purchase materials if: * The operational plan and contract are approved. * The 50% advance payment is requested.

* Trees, or a portion of the trees, have been ordered and an invoice and/or receipt can be provided. * The balance of the contract will be paid once the practice is completed and verified using reporting information provided and accepted by CRCL staff. * Note: If the producer does not complete the entire Silvopasture Plan within 18 months of contract signing, the producer must refund the initial 50% payment to the program.

” Check out tree payment rates here In order to be eligible for any Missouri CRCL Project Inventive payment program producers will be required to meet the following criteria based on the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS)’s requirements.

### **General eligibility** * Establish Farm Records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA)- specifically having farm, tract, and fields numbers and boundaries established for the land in which you want to enroll. Note: This information must be in-hand prior to making application as you will need it during the application process. * Provide a copy of the farm map for the land in which the application will be made.

The map should include the farm, tract, field numbers and boundaries. Request a map from FSA if you do not have one. * Work with the Farm Service Agency to complete, revise and/or confirm the following documents and information is on file: * Confirming you are a current citizen of the U.S. or a lawful alien possessing a valid I-551 (Form I-551 is the formal designation of a permanent resident card, also known as a Green Card).

* Form AD-1026 for certifying Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) compliance. * **NOTE**: If you are awarded a contract, and prior to any payments, you will need to obtain and provide us with a copy of your Subsidiary Print(from FSA). This is an FSA generated document that shows your compliance with meeting the requirements of the above-mentioned forms.

A new one will be needed each year you participate in the CRCL project and receive payments. ### **Grow Your Edges eligibility** * Certify they have not received an NRCS program or other USDA cost-share or incentive payments for the same practice (CPS 381, Silvopasture) on the same fields they wish to enroll in this program. * Have access to farmland located in Missouri on which to practice silvopasture for at least the next 3 years.

* At least 1 year experience operating a livestock or forestry program, OR * Completed a training workshop or program that encompasses agroforestry management or managed grazing (e.g., Agroforestry Academy or Missouri Grazing School). ## **What is the application and award process? ** ### **1.

****Application** The Silvopasture Program is no longer accepting applications. The information below is for producers already enrolled in the program. ### **2.

Review and follow up** Applicants that meet the eligibility requirements will have their application reviewed by the program team. If applicants are eligible, they will be contacted by staff to the registered email address and invited to complete the application process and create an operational plan. If an operational plan already exists, funding is contingent upon plan approval.

Operational plan requirements (can be completed with assistance from agroforestry staff): 1. Description of operation 2. Purpose of implementing silvopasture or agroforestry practices 3.

Plan for planting trees (species, number, and spacing) 4. Plan for maintaining trees, which includes protecting them from livestock and fire as well as accounting for trees that need to be pruned and replaced. 5.

Map or drawing of acreage 6. Grazing management adjustments ### **3. Implementation** CRCL incentives can only be used for establishing silvopasture on currently unforested acres.

To receive incentive payments, acres must be stocked to 10% by single stemmed trees that are at least 4 meters (13. 1 feet) tall at maturity. Trees must produce at least 30% canopy cover at maturity.

For edge plantings, the 30% canopy cover must extend into the field at least 30,5 meters (100 feet) from the edge. ### **4. Monitoring, reporting, and verification** Producers will be required to track their progress in establishing silvopasture.

Once the practice is implemented, producers must provide the following prior to being issued a payment: 1. Upload receipts, photos and implementation documentation. In some instances, staff will perform a follow up visit to confirm practice installation.

2. Complete the reporting information required by USDA. Check out“What to Know” to learn more about what information we will need to collect.

3. A subset of all participants may also be asked to have soil samples taken on their field. ### **5.

Receive payment** Payments will be made once trees have been planted according to the producer’s silvopasture plan and the required monitoring information has been submitted. Back to Missouri CRCL Project homepage - [x] Missouri CRCL Project Updates If you are human, leave this field blank. [](https://cra.

missouri. edu/crcl_silvopasture/) regenerativeagriculture@missouri. edu 238 Ag Engineering Building MU is an equal opportunity employer.