MFAI Launches Advancing Agroforestry Project in Southeast Wisconsin

On a recent December Monday, a MFAI-led Zoom call was alive with excitement.  Farmers, MFAI staff, UW Extension staff, and partners with the Savanna Institute were ready to jump into action, planning a new $275,000 project funded by the Daybreak Foundation and Caerus Foundation to develop successful agroforestry plantings in Southeast Wisconsin.  By integrating trees and shrubs into crop and livestock systems, agroforestry offers a powerful approach to improving soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.  In urban settings like central Milwaukee, it also can help community members grow nutritious fruits, nuts, vegetables, and grains right in neighborhoods with limited healthy food options.

Led by MFAI, the two-year project, Showcasing Agroforestry in SE Wisconsin Communities, will establish:

1. Four Agroforestry Demonstration Sites across Southeast Wisconsin.

2. Two On-Farm Pilots utilizing innovative Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing to help farmers implement agroforestry practices.                                

Agroforestry Demonstration Sites

1. Beulah Family Homestead Farm (Elkhorn, WI)

   • Practices: Alley cropping, silvopasture, and food forests.

   • Focus: Community-based agriculture and youth education.

2. Lee Hemp Farm (Burlington, WI)

   • Practices: One-acre alley cropping system with fruit trees and bushes, plus a 1,000-foot windbreak.

   • Focus: Hands-on agroforestry education for youth and community members.

3. Kohl Farm Community Gardens (North Milwaukee)

   • Practices: Converting community gardens into a multipurpose agroforestry site with fruit and nut trees interplanted with vegetables and grains.

   • Focus: Public education, youth empowerment, and community engagement.

4. Central Milwaukee (WestCare Inc.)

   • Practices: Demonstration plantings of fruit and food crops on three vacant lots.

   • Focus: Supporting community members in producing fruits and vegetables through agroforestry.

Innovative Financing for Farmers - The project will also pilot the use of PACE financing, a deferred-repayment program, to help two commercial farmers in Southeast Wisconsin overcome the financial challenges of establishing perennial crops. This initiative is part of a national effort to make agroforestry financially accessible.

"Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Daybreak Foundation and Caerus Fund, we can advance agroforestry practices that not only benefit farmers but also build stronger, healthier communities and ecosystems. Our funders’ vision and commitment to regenerative agriculture and community health are enabling long-lasting community and ecosystem investments." -Margaret Krome, MFAI Policy Director