Maysville Community and Technical College will soon host an informational session about agroforestry.
The practice is the integration of fruit, nut, and timber trees with animal or crop farming systems. Officials report it’s known to benefit the environment and support farm profit.
Carrie Taylor, an agriculture and horticulture professor at MCTC, said Kentucky is already seeing a change in agricultural methods and it’s important that the change continues.
“We used to have very traditional and conventional agriculture practices, but a lot of the methods and practices are changing, and environmentally, it’s really critical that they’ve changed,” said Taylor.
Close to 200,000 chestnut trees have been planted in Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio in the last several years as farmers integrate agroforestry.
Taylor said she’s frequently asked about the trees Commonwealth residents are seeing but cannot identify, and the session will provide answers.
“It’s a nontraditional way to think of an agricultural product, so they’ll be answering questions about that and providing information about the trees and about agroforestry in general,” said Taylor.
The event will include a panel of three to four people who represent Agroforestry Partners, MCTC Workforce Solutions, Propagate, and Chestnut Management Group. Speakers will discuss different types of fruit and nut trees and how alternative crop production can benefit the local economy. The representatives will also answer questions from attendees.
The session will be held on Thursday, October 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Crockett Auditorium on MCTC’s Maysville campus. It is open to the public.