Overview

Join the 2026 New England Grazing Network Luminary Roadshow Series with Joshua Greene from Trees for Graziers at Robie Farm.

THE WORKSHOP:

Join Joshua Greene, Director of Education for Trees for Graziers, for a full-day, hands-on workshop at Robie exploring how to design a silvopasture system from scratch. This workshop will combine classroom discussion with an in-depth farm tour, giving participants the opportunity to see silvopasture principles in practice.

Joshua will share the design process behind successful silvopasture systems, including tree species selection, pasture establishment, livestock integration, and management strategies that balance ecological health with farm productivity. Participants will learn how trees can enhance forage production, improve animal comfort and welfare, build soil health, diversify farm income, and strengthen resilience to changing weather conditions.

Whether you are considering planting your first trees or expanding an existing silvopasture, this workshop will provide practical tools, design frameworks, and real-world examples to help you successfully integrate trees into grazing systems.

Participants will learn:

• The principles of successful silvopasture design and planning

• How to select appropriate tree species for forage, timber, nuts, fruit, and ecosystem services

• Tree planting layouts, spacing, protection, and establishment strategies

• Integrating livestock into young and mature silvopasture systems

• Grazing management practices that support both healthy trees and productive pastures

• The benefits of trees for animal welfare, soil health, water management, and climate resilience

• Economic opportunities and long-term returns from agroforestry system

This workshop is ideal for livestock producers, beginning farmers, agricultural service providers, conservation professionals, and anyone interested in incorporating agroforestry into pasture-based livestock operations. It will include both a classroom and field portion. Participants will expect to learn:

Topics for Classroom Presentations:

• historical practice of silvopasture

• types of silvopasture

• benefits of silvopasture for various enterprises

• livestock and human feed production and potential

• silvopasture-specific tree species

• shade concepts & goals

• tree densities and layouts

• working from goals to silvopasture design with farmers

Topics for In-field Portion:

• tree layout in pasture

• tree planting in a silvopasture

• tree patterns for various farm needs

• tree protection strategies

• polywire and electric fence considerations

• rotational grazing in silvopasture

• tree maintenance & aftercare

ABOUT TREES FOR GRAZIERS

Trees for Graziers is an agroforestry education and consulting organization dedicated to helping farmers successfully integrate trees, livestock, and forage through silvopasture. By combining practical, science-based training with on-farm experience, Trees for Graziers supports producers in designing resilient grazing systems that improve animal welfare, enhance ecosystem health, and strengthen farm profitability.

ABOUT ROBIE FARM

Located in Piermont, New Hampshire, along the Connecticut River, Robie Farm is a seventh-generation family dairy that has been in continuous operation since 1870. The 150-acre farm is owned and managed by the Robie family and has successfully evolved from a traditional dairy into a diversified, direct-to-consumer farm business while maintaining its commitment to high-quality livestock, responsible land stewardship, and family farming.

Today, Robie Farm milks a herd of Jersey and Normande cows, producing raw milk that is bottled on-farm and crafted into a variety of farmstead cheeses. The farm also raises beef, pork, poultry, and other livestock under its HGAL (Humanely Raised, Growth Hormone-Free, All Natural, Locally Grown) standards, with products sold through its farm store and regional markets.

The Luminary Tour is organized by the New England Grazing Network and supported by:

• Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment

• Vermont Grass Farmers Association

• UMaine Extension

• Granite State Graziers

• Cornell Cooperative Extension – Capital Area Ag & Hort Program

• Berkshire Agricultural Ventures

• Northeast Pasture Consortium

• Northeast Grass-Fed Beef Initiative