SUNY ESF Plants First Trees in Multi-Farm Silvopasture Research Initiative

10/30/2026

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Oct. 30, 2026 – Researchers at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) have launched a multi-year study to better understand how silvopasture, the intentional integration of trees, forage, and livestock, can strengthen farm productivity, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience across the Northeast. The research will examine silvopasture established through the planting of trees in pasture systems. Although silvopasture can also be developed by thinning existing tree stands, that approach is not being evaluated as part of this project. 

Led by Cole Gross, assistant professor in ESF's Department of Sustainable Resources Management, the project brings together researchers, students, farmers, and conservation organizations to establish and evaluate silvopasture systems on six working cattle farms across New York state. The research will examine how strategically planted trees influence livestock health, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, carbon storage, tree survival and growth, and planting costs, while providing practical guidance for producers interested in adopting the practice. 

The project recently reached a significant milestone with the installation of its first silvopasture demonstration planting at Twin Oaks Dairy Farm in Cortland County. During a collaborative field planting event, farmers, students, researchers, and agricultural professionals established the first of 18 planned demonstration systems that will be monitored throughout the study. More than 2,000 trees are expected to be planted across approximately 36 acres of working pastureland during the project’s initial phase, creating living laboratories for research and education. Five additional partner farms were planted throughout the fall, bringing the project closer to its goal of establishing demonstration systems across six working cattle farms in New York state. 

As interest in climate-smart agricultural practices continues to grow, silvopasture is gaining attention for its potential to provide shade for livestock, improve soil health and water retention, support pollinators and wildlife, sequester carbon, and create additional economic opportunities for farms. Despite growing interest, significant research gaps remain regarding how these systems perform under Northeast conditions and how they can be successfully implemented at scale. 

"It was exciting to dig into the soil and help plant the first trees. We're testing three planting designs on working farms to make establishing silvopasture systems more practical, beneficial, and scalable," said Gross, the project's principal investigator. “We're tracking a range of outcomes, including tree survival and growth, changes in soil health over time, and impacts on livestock health, water quality, biodiversity, carbon storage, and planting costs. One of the biggest barriers for farmers is the upfront investment, along with uncertainty about how to establish and maintain productive systems. Our goal is to provide the information and real-world experience farmers need to determine whether silvopasture is a good fit for their operation. By working alongside dedicated farmers on their own land and partnering with extension specialists and conservation organizations, we're building practical knowledge that can support wider adoption across the region.”

The project will also produce an open-access Technical Guide to help farmers evaluate site conditions, management considerations, and implementation strategies for silvopasture. Findings will be shared through demonstration sites, field days, workshops, and outreach programs designed to accelerate knowledge sharing and support adoption across the agricultural community. 

“This project demonstrates how SUNY ESF research translates directly into solutions that benefit communities, industries, and the environment," said Joanie Mahoney, president of ESF. “We are grateful to the many partners who have joined us in this effort to advance knowledge that can strengthen agricultural resilience, support rural economies, and promote sustainable stewardship of working lands.” 

The initiative also serves as a valuable hands-on learning opportunity for ESF students and includes partnerships with Cornell Cooperative Extension, the New York Soil Health Program, American Farmland Trust, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition (USC) through its agroforestry pilot program. The USC provided the majority of funding for and co-led the project’s initial planting efforts, with Lydia Brinkley leading coordination and implementation on behalf of the coalition. The project has also benefited from the expertise of Brett Chedzoy of Cornell Cooperative Extension, an award-winning silvopasture practitioner and partner farmer whose guidance, technical expertise, and work with participating producers helped shape the effort from its earliest stages. The project is also supported in part by a McIntire-Stennis award (Cole Gross, principal investigator; Christine Georgakakos, co-principal investigator) and the NY Connects grant (Timothy Volk, principal investigator). 

“The strength of this project lies in its combination of rigorous science and strong partnerships,” said Lindi Quackenbush, provost at ESF. “We're appreciative of the farmers and partner organizations working alongside us to generate research that can inform agricultural practices across the Northeast for years to come.” 

The project's findings are expected to advance scientific understanding of silvopasture systems while providing farmers, land managers, and policymakers with valuable information about the role these practices can play in building a more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural future. 

About SUNY ESF     

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is one of the nation's premier colleges focused on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable future. ESF’s Mission is to educate future environmental leaders of all backgrounds, advance knowledge, and skills necessary to promote scholarship and stewardship of the natural to designed environments, and act both locally and globally to Improve Our World. ESF’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni make a global impact on improving and sustaining the environment. ESF offers a world-class education among a close-knit community of more than 2,000 scholars with common values and a shared sense of purpose. ESF’s tight-knit community is centered alongside Syracuse University in the heart of Central New York and has a system of properties spanning 25,000 acres that broadly represent New York state’s rich ecological diversity for scientific study and instruction.  To learn more, visit www.esf.edu.