The initial workshop included a farm tour of the Thompson Beef Farm by Senior Farm Manager Stoney Coffman and a woodland management workshop presented by Benjamin Knapp, PhD, associate professor in forestry and interim director of the Center. Dr. Knapp addressed concepts of forest management and demonstrated tools and techniques for determining forest density and principles of forest thinning.
A second workshop was led by Ryan Lueckenhoff, Ducks Unlimited biologist and burn boss with the Mid-Missouri Prescribed Burn Association, at Mizzou’s Baskett Forest. Ryan discussed logistics in planning a burn, including creating a burn plan, showing participants equipment commonly used for burning, and reviewing site preparation and ignition techniques.
The final workshop was held with Amy Hamilton, co-founder of Hamilton Native Outpost, in Elk Creek, Missouri. Amy and her son Colt, Hamilton’s CEO for seed production & personnel, discussed their successes and failures related to prairie, savanna, and woodland restoration, conversion to native grasses with cattle and buffalo grazing, and their techniques of establishing and producing native seeds as a commodity.
Through these workshops, producers were provided a platform to expand their knowledge of woodland silvopasture management practices to optimize production and improve natural resource management. Producers gained the opportunity to build networks to support current or future implementation of woodland silvopasture within their operations.
“This project is an example of collaboration between researchers and practitioners towards participatory producer-led research and extension initiatives,” said Esparza-Harris. “Input from producer groups can highlight important practical aspects of woodland silvopasture for future research and catalyze sustainable landscape transformation and management within Missouri.”
Esparza-Harris hopes more graduate students and researchers will use this model to increase the capacity for supporting producers with demonstrations and educational opportunities, as well as peer-to-peer learning, and further technical training.
