The Center for Agroforestry

08/28/2026

Mizzou Agroforestry teamed up with the University of Minnesota to conduct a black walnut taste test with 100 participants. Taste testers rated each sample for aroma, flavor, texture and overall liking. Black walnut has a stronger, more distinctive flavor than the more commonly available English walnut, which many consumers describe as milder. Even so, 40 participants preferred at least one black walnut sample over the English walnut. Three advanced breeding selections from Mizzou Agroforestry received the highest ratings because they had less bitterness and a milder aftertaste.

The study found clear differences among black walnut cultivars. Some performed nearly as well as English walnut, while others were rated much lower. These results will help breeders identify the flavor traits consumers prefer while continuing to improve yield, nut quality and orchard performance.

Read the full research brief on our website: https://centerforagroforestry.org/black-walnut-taste/

08/26/2026

Join Grow Native at the Missouri Chestnut Festival in New Franklin on Saturday, October 10 from 10 am to 3 pm! Free and open to the public. More info: https://centerforagroforestry.org/2026fest/

After a heavy rain, water rushes across rooftops, parking lots and sidewalks, often carrying soil and other debris with it. But what happens next depends on the landscape. At Lincoln University of Missouri’s (LU) Native and Specialty Crops Program, educators are demonstrating how native plants can...

08/25/2026

Join River Hills Harvest at the Missouri Chestnut Festival in New Franklin on Saturday, October 10 from 10 am to 3 pm! Free and open to the public. More info: https://centerforagroforestry.org/2026fest/

American elderberry botanical tea blends!
🌲🍄🌿🌼🌺
If are your thing, give one of our American elderberry or elderflower teas a try today! Made with locally and ethically sourced herbs and our Midwest grown American elderberries and elderflowers. Designed by a trusted herbalist for purpose and taste!

Tea Blends are Buy 2 Get 1 FREE on our website:
www.RiverHillsHarvest.com

08/21/2026

Join Heindselman Family Farms at the Missouri Chestnut Festival in New Franklin on Saturday, October 10 from 10 am to 3 pm! Free and open to the public. More info: https://centerforagroforestry.org/2026fest/

Chestnuts harvest is in full swing! Place your orders now at Heindselmanfamilyfarms.com

08/20/2026

Join us for a hearty congratulations to our most recent graduates! These folks worked hard to complete either our online master’s program, graduate certificate, or on-campus master’s program. Let’s give them a big round of applause!

Aubrey Teckam, MS. Thesis: Characterizing Bloom Phenology and Quantitative Disease Resistance in Hybrid Hazelnuts (Corylus americana × Corylus avellana) in Missouri. Committee: Ron Revord, Ben Knapp, Andy Thomas, & Tom Molnar.

Casey Jones, MS. Final Project: Dryland Agroforestry Across Time and Place: Transferable Lessons from Historical Systems for the Southwestern United States.

Isaac Johnson, MS. Final Project: Beyond the Ecological Advantage: The Case for Multispecies Grazing in Silvopasture.

Nicolaus Cromme (Not Pictured), Graduate Certificate.

Paul Harris, MS. Final Project: Agroforestry in New York: Trends, Opportunities, and Strategies.

Ren Klug, MS. Thesis: Untapped Potential: Sap Production and Chemistry of Sugar Maple, Black Walnut, and American Sycamore Trees in Missouri. Committee: Benjamin Knapp, Jeffrey Wood, & Chung-Ho Lin.

Wyatt Ellis, MS. Final Project: Why Aren’t More Farmers Adopting Agroforestry Practices: Agroforestry Curriculum, Lessons, & Summative Assessments for High School Agriculture Science Programs as a Possible Solution.

08/19/2026

Thank you to Forrest Keeling Nursery for supporting the Missouri Chestnut Festival! Join us on Saturday, October 10 from 10 am to 3 pm in New Franklin! More info: https://centerforagroforestry.org/2026fest/

08/18/2026

Mizzou Agroforestry chestnut seed is available for $27 per one pound bag. Individuals can order a maximum of three pounds per cultivar while supplies last. This order form allows growers and hobbyists access to germplasm and is not for the purpose of supplying nursery stock for resale. Our priority this year is disseminating diverse genetic material. Some of the cultivar families offered have little known about them. We welcome grower feedback as seedlings are grown and observed over time.

Questions? Email [email protected].

https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_07k2gTTSTnhn0nY

08/13/2026

Join the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Missouri Prairie Foundation and Missouri Department of Conservation for a field tour of prairie strips and practical conservation solutions for working farms and the use of native plants in your home landscape.

This FREE event, open to EVERYONE, will be: Saturday, August 22, near Chillicothe.

9:30 to 11:45 AM - Prairie Strip / Planted Prairie Field Day (visit MRCC member Doug Doughty’s farm along with planted prairie at the Poosey Conservation Area)

Noon - Lunch & Learn with FREE LUNCH provided by MRCC (Poosey Conservation Area informational session - learn what Poosey has to offer; lunch served at the Indian Creek Pavilion at Poosey)

1 to 3 PM - Conservation at Home Workshop with snacks & drinks provided (learn about native landscaping and establishing a pocket prairie) - session held at conservation pavilion

Choose the morning prairie walk, afternoon workshop or both. Park at Poosey for both events. Trailer transportation provided between the farm and the conservation area.

Please register to let us know which session(s) you will attend. Driving directions will be provided after registration.

To register, call MRCC at 573-449-1336 or email [email protected].

08/05/2026

Check out this month’s Action in Agroforestry newsletter! Included in this edition:

🌳 Join us for our Pasture to Woodland: Diversified Grazing System Field Day on Friday, September 18 in Gravois Mills.
🌳 Save the date and don’t miss out on our Black Walnut Grower Workshop on Oct. 9 in New Franklin!
🌳 Dive into our latest research brief on black walnut consumer preferences.
🌳 Find the link to our chestnut seed order form.
🌳Check out upcoming agroforestry funding deadlines and job postings!

Read in full: https://mailchi.mp/4b5d3504cf4d/action-in-agroforestry-e-news-18255465?e=ce1da3246b

Sign up to receive future editions: https://mailchi.mp/missouri/action-in-agroforestry-e-news

08/04/2026

One more week to apply for this round of the Expanding Agroforestry Project! Eligible producers throughout the 30-state project area are invited to apply for financial and technical support to adopt alley cropping, silvopasture, or windbreaks. The minimum project size is five acres and maximum awards are $450,000. Producers can sign up for a pre-application consultation with regional technical assistance staff here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019ed1ca27e877f3aa626499264de071

Learn more about the project and read through the FAQ at https://www.nature.org/agroforestryusa