Elements of Agroforestry Planning

Developing a Plan

Creating a plan is the first step to supporting landowners and producers in successfully integrating agroforestry on their farm. 

Below are some resources to support the planning process.

The Steps

Site Assessment

Assess soil, climate, and physical features of the land in order to determine crop suitability, growing and planting limitations, and best management approaches. 

Planting Configuration

Design the spatial layout of trees, crops, and/or livestock to optimize resource use, productivity, and environmental benefits.

Species Selection

Choose tree, shrub, and understory species that are well-suited to the site conditions, landowner goals, and desired ecological or economic outcomes.

See below for resources on species selection.

Implementation & Management

Establish the agroforestry system through careful planting and infrastructure setup, followed by ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and adaptive management.

Recommended Mapping Tools

Overyield

Web-based mapping design platform. Subscription service.

Difficulty level = easy

Learn more >

ArcPro

Difficulty level = medium

AutoCAD

Multi purpose design software.

Difficulty level = medium to hard

Tool Highlight: Canopy Compass

Gather high-resolution data for your field through this free web-based tool. The Canopy Compass report features dozens of valuable data layers ranging from soil and climate to crop suitability. Reports for specific agroforestry species are available upon request.

Visit Site

New Agroforestry Guide for Wet Soils

The Snohomish Conservation District in Washington State has released a practical new guide for transforming waterlogged soils using agroforestry. While tailored to the Pacific Northwest, the guide provides a flexible framework of strategies and considerations that can be applied to wet soil conditions in a variety of regions.

Get the guide