Across the country, researchers, farmers and forestry experts are embracing a simple idea with big impacts: raising animals in forests. It’s called silvopasture—a practice that combines trees, forages and livestock on the same land. This approach is a win-win-win. It boosts food and timber production, supports environmental health and creates new economic opportunities for farmers.
With support from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, researchers from Mississippi to Hawaii to Missouri and South Carolina are demonstrating that silvopasture is more than an alternative agricultural method—it’s a long-term investment in productivity and sustainability.
Healthy Woodlands and More Meat in Mississippi
Mississippi State University researchers are exploring how silvopasture can help landowners in the Southeast produce more meat and maintain healthier forests. Sheep and goats are the stars of the project. These animals thrive differently. Sheep prefer grazing on grass, while goats browse on shrubs and leaves. That makes them ideal for managing different types of vegetation in woodland areas.
The project has two key goals: to improve meat production and reduce invasive species like kudzu. Kudzu, a fast-growing vine that covers millions of acres in the Southeast, is hard to control and harms native plants and wildlife. But goats love eating it. Researchers are comparing goat grazing to chemical methods for controlling kudzu while studying how this affects meat quality, soil health and farm economics.
This research is already reaching rural communities. Minority farmers in Mississippi are participating in the study and using their farms as demonstration sites. These farms will host field days to show others how silvopasture works and how it can reduce costs, increase income and offer new protein sources for families. Ultimately, the goal is to build a more resilient, diversified agricultural system for the Southeast.
Restoring the Land in Hawaii
In Hawaii, much of the land once used for sugarcane and pineapple has been left abandoned, overrun with weeds and prone to wildfires. Researchers at the University of Hawaii see this as an opportunity. By introducing silvopasture to these areas, they hope to reduce fire risk, prevent erosion and improve soil quality—all while increasing local food production and enhancing rural prosperity.
Their focus is on integrating livestock into reforestation efforts. When managed carefully, grazing animals can help shape plant communities to mimic natural processes. This supports healthier ecosystems and strengthens Hawaii’s food system, which relies heavily on imports. By turning fallow land into productive silvopasture, Hawaii can move closer to food independence and environmental stability.
High-Tech Trees and Forage in Missouri
University of Missouri scientists are using cutting-edge technology to study silvopasture with black walnut trees—one of the region’s most valuable hardwoods. Researchers are testing different tree spacing and livestock combinations to find the best ways to grow both timber and forage.
Using drones equipped with LiDAR and multispectral sensors, the team is creating detailed models of how trees and pasture grow together over time. These high-resolution images help scientists and farmers understand what’s happening on the ground so they can make better decisions.
This project also includes hands-on learning for students and outreach to landowners. Field trips, training sessions and real-world research opportunities are helping prepare the next generation of farmers, foresters and scientists, while also giving today’s producers tools to diversify and improve their operations.
Teaching and Training in South Carolina
At South Carolina State University, a five-acre silvopasture demonstration site is teaching small-scale farmers and woodland owners how to get the most out of their land. The site includes longleaf and loblolly pines, planted with warm-season grasses like Bahiagrass in between. These trees offer shade that reduces livestock heat stress and improves the quality of the pasture beneath them.
For many small-scale farmers, one of the biggest barriers to agroforestry is risk. They often need income now—not ten years from now when timber matures. Silvopasture helps bridge that gap by producing forage and livestock each year while trees grow in the background as a long-term investment. It also reduces the need for herbicides and mowing by using animals to control vegetation— cutting costs and supporting sustainability.
The program also brings visitors and student interns to the site, spreading the benefits of silvopasture beyond South Carolina. It’s not just about producing more—it’s about showing what’s possible when agriculture and conservation work together.
Big Picture: More Food, Healthier Forests, Stronger Farms
Silvopasture is changing how we think about land use. Rather than choosing between trees or livestock, it shows that we can have both—and benefit from the interaction. Trees provide shade and shelter. Livestock manage weeds and provide income. Together, they improve the soil, increase biodiversity and create more resilient agricultural and forest systems.
Across the country, NIFA-funded projects are building a future where farms are more productive, ecosystems are healthier and rural communities have new opportunities to thrive. Whether it’s controlling invasive kudzu with goats in Mississippi, restoring fallow lands in Hawaii, planting black walnut in Missouri, or training new farmers in South Carolina, silvopasture is helping farmers produce more food and fiber in ways that work with nature—not against it.