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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #85572
Title: PRACTICAL MODELS TO EVALUATE SILVOPASTORAL OPTIONS: A NEW ZEALAND EXAMPLE

Author
item KNOWLES, R - NEW ZEALAND FOREST RES
item MIDDLEMISS, P - NEW ZEALAND FOREST RES
item Blanche, Catalino

Submitted to: International Conference on Agroforestry for Sustainable Land-Use
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This project is a joint development between the New Zealand Forest Research Institute and USDA, ARS. New Zealand has a total area of 26 million hectares (about the size of United Kingdom) with half the productive land devoted to agriculture, mainly grazed pasture, and less than 6% in forest plantations 90% of which is planted to radiata pine. Practical models have been developed to aid in planning and management of forestry ventures. Growth models developed from traditional forestry database result in growth underestimation by 20% because of the relatively more fertile farms being planted. The most widely used model at the stand level is the New Zealand "STANDPAK" which evaluates profitability and also provides yield tables and understory livestock tables for estate (whole farm) evaluations. It has several module including agroforestry and log grades that can be harnessed for specific cases or calculations. At the whole farm level, it is necessary to consider the feasibility as well as the profitability of each option. The Agroforestry Estate Model (AEM) is principally used at this level. This model allows an analyst to design a feasible and profitable agroforestry project to meet clients' objectives. The model requires 5 categorical inputs (tree yield and understory yield tables, labor and costs associated with each crop type, and farm accounts) to calculate the impact of any given planting program on labor, livestock, woodflows, cashflows and overall financial feasibility. Future developments to enhance the capability of the models (AEM in particular) include a detailed database, a risk analysis module, and a GIS interface to allow farm maps to be produced.