A Silvopastoralist’s Admiration of Black Locust

In 1988, with a year of forestry school under my belt, I set about my goal of turning the 100 acres of fields on our family’s old dairy farm in upstate New York into forests. To my parents’ relief, I ran out of time to fully carry out the threat before heading off into the big world. However, several productive springs throughout college were enough to get trees started on 30 acres of the farm’s less productive fields.

On the better sites, we planted a mix of black locust and black walnut.  My fledgling knowledge of forest economics showed it to be a great “get rich quick” scheme, which in forestry terms means in about 50 years.  In hindsight, the brilliant part of that plan were the locusts. Sure, the walnuts are still there and someday we will reap what we have sown, but the locusts have been a blessing in multiple ways.

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Parent Category: 2021 Volume 27

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A Return to Silvopasture: From Pasture to Two-Story Agriculture

My 4 children, wife, and I returned to our 10th generation farm (circa 1773) in 2009 after my 1st overseas deployment with the Air National Guard.  My Great-Grandfather was the last Holsinger to live on the property in the early 1970s, but the family continued to farm the property in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Back then, the farm was part of a 70 head cow/calf operation, fenced as a single 72-acre tract, with cattle drinking from the ponds, stream, and house spring. We spent 2 weeks a year making tons of hay, and the rest of the year we fed that hay 2-3 days a week along with silage trucked from another farm 20 miles away.

That was then…This is now. 

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Parent Category: 2021 Volume 27

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Importance of Black Locust in Hungary

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is one of the most important fast-growing, stand-forming tree species in Hungary, and its impor­tance is increasing in many other countries. The species is indigenous to the eastern and central part of USA between latitudes 43o and 35o N. Black locust is good for wood production, honey production and ornamental purposes, with low incidence of pests and diseases. The promotion of black locust in Hungary, both in the past and in the present, was provoked by the following factors:1) the need to fix loose shifting sands; 2) de­mands for afforestation of abandoned agricultural lands; 3) abundant seed yield, vitality, excellent ability for sprouting and ability to fix free atmospheric nitro­gen; 4) wide range of uses for black locust wood (tool manu­facture, fuel wood, vineyard, poles and props, pit-wood, parquet); and 5) provision of flowers for bee forage.

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Online North American Agroforestry Conference Planned for June 28th-July 2nd

As many of us wait anxiously for in-person events to resume, the 2021 North American Agroforestry Conference (NAAC), “Scaling Up Agroforestry for Carbon Drawdown”, is moving forward as an online event scheduled for June 28th to July 2nd. This year’s conference, which is co-hosted by AFTA and the Savanna Institute, seeks to maintain a high level of networking and engagement while taking advantage of the opportunities provided by an online format.

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The Thornless Honey Locust for Silvopasture in Southwest Missouri

Another locust to consider for your silvopasture is honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L). Robert Marsh in southwest Missouri has experimented with several types of trees but the primary species in his silvopasture is thornless honey locust.

Robert has been managing livestock on his farm, Floral Hill Farm in southwest Missouri, for over 30 years. Over these 30 years he has been experimenting with tree crops and silvopasture as ways to improve productivity and sustainability on his farm. Currently, his silvopasture encompasses a 20-acre bottom field, Huntington Silt-Loam, in which half of the 20 acres are prone to seasonal flooding. Robert raises Katahdin sheep and lamb is his primary market, but he also raises a few steers for friends and family.

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Parent Category: 2021 Volume 27

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