Agroforestry session to be held next week

Published on Oct 15, 2024

By Rachel Adkins

Maysville Community and Technical College will soon host a session on Agroforestry at the Maysville campus. 

Agroforestry, known to benefit the environment in several ways, is the integration of fruit, nut and timber trees with animal or crop farming systems. 

The goal of the practice is to blend technologies and resources by using diverse plantings to create environmentally sustainable systems.

The practice decreases erosion and nutrient loss, increases biodiversity, sequesters carbon and supports farm profit. 

At the session to be held in the Crockett Auditorium, community members will have the chance to learn about Agroforestry in the area. 

There will be a panel made up of 3-4 individuals who represent various businesses. These include Agroforestry Partners, MCTC Workforce Solutions, Propagate and Chestnut Management Group.

Carrie Taylor, an adult agriculture instructor at MCTC, has worked closely with Harry Greene, an agroforestry agronomist and economist for Propagate.

Taylor has been a horticulturist throughout her adult life as well as a proponent for agrarian-based businesses.

“It’s important for me to create awareness through educational experiences, about opportunities within these industries,” Taylor remarked. 

She continued, “This forum will provide valuable information about agroforestry and alternative crop resources in our region.”

Propagate partners with other businesses and organizations who promote practices and initiatives through the use of alternative agriculture and woodland crops.

One of the topics to be discussed at the session will involve tree crops, some of which can be found in the area. This includes chestnuts and black locust. 

Over the last several years, close to 200,000 chestnut trees have been planted in Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio. 

With increasing interest in knowing why so many of these trees have been planted, this session will allow individuals to inquire about various topics. 

This might include the different types of nut and fruit trees and why polyculture and alternative crop production can be economically and culturally prosperous in a local community.

Individuals may also learn the mission of speakers anticipated at the session.

The session is open to all who are interested in Agroforestry and will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Crockett Auditorium on the Maysville campus.

For more information, please contact Carrie Taylor at (606) 301-6032 or carrie.taylor@kctcs.edu.