Page 92 - TA Magazine

Case Study 04 Agroforestry
Formosa Cressy
Cressy
Road Cressy
Cressy
Agroforestry
improves enterprise income Introduction
Agroforestry
Agroforestry
is the incorporation of of of o woody perennial vegetation
into agricultural systems Agroforestry
Agroforestry
often involves planting planting commercial forestry
forestry
species species species for for for harvest but also includes planting planting stream-side buffers shelterbelts of native species species species or or or or even species species species that produce high-value products for for harvest such as energy fruits nuts oils and honey The benefits of of agroforestry to the farming enterprise include diversification increasing overall productivity and and and improving the sustainability and resilience of farm systems systems Trees integrated into agricultural systems systems have many benefits to to other parts of the the farming enterprise that are are rarely accounted for in in in in farm farm balance sheets so we:
Quantified and and integrated the the direct direct and and indirect benefits of trees to the the farming system Sought to understand the most profitable configurations o of trees on farms Explored farmer motivations and barriers to adoption of trees on farms Demonstrated a a a a a a a strong economic argument to include trees in in agricultural landscapes How profitable is agroforestry?
Agroforestry
is often perceived to to be unprofitable or or or or associated
with high opportunity costs forming a a a a a a a a a a a a a a significant barrier to to adoption However there is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a paucity of o of of financial analyses examining the the profitability of o of of of agroforestry systems systems fin in in in Australia Published case studies in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a range o of of of farming systems systems across southern Australia (livestock cropping dairy) indicate that agroforestry is a a a a a profitable option Internal rates of of of return of of of agroforestry systems are typically around 8% Enterprises with agroforestry were more profitable than agriculture only only or or or or forestry
forestry
only only enterprises Benefit: cost rations were highly variable but generally greater than one ranging from 1 1 3—17 4 At a a Glance Owner
Family owned
Property Size
25ha paddock Enterprise Dryland and and irrigated mixed farming Rainfall
550—600mm per year Soil types
Brown Chromosol
Summary
When timber timber and non-timber values are are accounted for carefully integrating trees into agricultural landscapes can be a a a a a a a a a a a a profitable and and attractive option with strongly competitive internal rates of return 92
Private Forests Tasmania