Several organizations are collaborating to help farmers plant more trees and shrubs on their land.
Farmers from 30 states — including Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri —are eligible for the Expanding Agroforestry Project.
Applications can be found on The Nature Conservancy’s website. The deadline is Aug. 11, 2026.
TNC describes agroforestry as “the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and livestock systems to generate environmental, economic and social benefits.”
Graham Savio, agroforestry manager for TNC’s North America Agriculture Program, said the funding can help pay for startup costs for seedlings, mulch, and more.
“We’re really excited to be able to provide really significant incentive funding to producers to adopt and implement agroforestry production systems,” Savio said.
The funding can also be used to pay for technical assistance and peer learning support.
The groups are funding the program through a $39 million grant TNC received from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Advancing Markets for Producers program.
There is a $450,000 cap on what any single farmer can receive.
Savio said trees and shrubs can provide farmers numerous benefits.
“You have a crop of trees that’s incorporated in that system that’s holding soil in place, that’s cleaning water, that’s providing biodiversity and wildlife habitat,” he said.
Savio said nut and fruit trees can also provide an additional revenue stream for farmers.
In addition, trees can provide shade for livestock.
“In a hot, sunny summer, it can be a really valuable thing. It can increase livestock weight gain and increase health and overall comfort for the livestock,” Savio said.
The regional leads for the project are the University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture, the Savanna Institute, Tuskegee University, Virginia Tech, Propagate, and the Hawai’i ‘Ulu Cooperative.
In addition to The Nature Conservancy, the project partners include the University of Vermont, Handsome Brook Farms, Appalachian Sustainable Development, New York Tree Crops Alliance, and Trees for Graziers.
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