Forest farming practices involve cultivating high value specialty crops in the forest understory with specific canopy management to promote the desired crop's growth and establishment

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Lincoln University $151,466 on October 1, 2025, under the Cooperative Forestry Research program (CFDA 10.202) to evaluate the feasibility of forest farming three Missouri native perennial herbs—black cohosh, golden seal, and wild ginger—and assess the impact of timber stand improvement and prescribed burn on forest ecosystem processes.

The research will establish and monitor productivity of the selected herb species for forest farming in Missouri, determine how associated forest management practices affect photosynthetic resource allocation, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil chemical properties, and monitor effects on soil microbial community composition. Project outcomes will generate best management practices for forest woodlots to support income opportunities for small farmers and forested landowners in Missouri and the Midwestern U.S. while improving forest health through timber stand improvement and prescribed burn treatments.

Performance occurs in Jefferson City, Missouri, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This is a formula grant assistance award.

The understory specialty crops (non timber forest products, ntfps) can include various items for food (mushrooms and nuts), botanicals (herbs and medicinal), decorative (floral greenery and dyes), and handicrafts (baskets and wood products). Although forest farming involves modifying the forest ecosystem, the primary forest functions are not negatively impaired but rather enhanced if correctly done. This study is designed to evaluate the feasibility to forest farm three missouri native perennial herbs black cohosh (actaea racemosa l.), golden seal (hydrastis canadensis l.), and wild ginger (asarum canadense l.) and the impact of timber stand improvement (TSI) and prescribed burn (PB) on forest ecosystem processes. The specific o bjectives include, i) evaluate the establishment and productivity of selected native herb species for forest farming in missouri, II) determine the impact of associated forest management practices (timber stand improvement and prescribed burn) on photosynthetic RE source allocation, greenhouse gas emissions and soil chemical properties, and III) monitor the effect of forest farming activities on soil microbial community composition. This project will benefit small farmers and forested landowners in missouri and the midwestern U.S. By generating new income opportunities through incorporating forest farming practices in their forests. As an added benefit, forest health will also improve from the TSI and PB treatments. Project outcomes will lead to the development of best management practices for forest woodlots and promote better decisionmaking processes for forest landowners, conservationists, state and local governments, and other stakeholders.