THE RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR EXTENSION ACTIVITIES RELATED TO FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES AT LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES. THE USDA RENEWABLE RESOURCE EXTENSION ACT (RREA), PASSED BY CONGRESS IN 1978, PROVIDES FUNDING TO EXPAND THE REACH OF FOREST AND RANGELAND EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 73 LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES THROUGH BETTER COORDINATION AND DELIVERY, USE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES, AND DEVELOPMENT OF EASILY REPLICABLE PROGRAM MODELS. THE RREA AUTHORIZED ANNUAL FUNDING LEVEL IS $30,000,000; HOWEVER, ONLY ABOUT $4,000,000 IS APPROPRIATED EACH YEAR. (I) 92% APPORTIONED TO STATES THROUGH A FORMULA AND (II) 8% APPLIED TO NATIONAL FOCUSED FUND PROJECTS VIA A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUNDING IS TO ASSIST STATES IN CARRYING OUT AN EXTENSION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ASSIST FOREST AND RANGE LANDOWNERS AND MANAGERS IN MAKING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS BASED ON RESEARCH FINDINGS. FOREST AND RANGELAND RESOURCES INCLUDE VEGETATION, WATER, FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, SOIL, AND RECREATION. IN SOUTH CAROLINA, OUR SCSU-1890 RESEARCH AND EXTENSION RREA PROGRAM IS TARGETING FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS WHO OWN SMALL - TRACTS TO MID-SIZE HOLDINGS AND INCLUDE YOUTHS, BEGINNING FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND VETERANS ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA GROUPS. A TEAM OF REGIONAL EXTENSION AGENTS WORKING FOR SCSU-1890 EXTENSION AND CLEMSON UNIVERSITY ARE ENGAGING IN CONDUCING EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATIONS ACROSS THE STATE. THE SCSU-1890 RESEARCH AND EXTENSION RREA PROGRAM IS INTRODUCING LAND CONVERSION AND FRAGMENTATION PROJECT BY ESTABLISHING A SILVOPASTURE DEMONSTRATION PLOT AT THE UNIVERSITY FARM IN OLAR, SC. SILVOPASTURE COMBINES TREES WITH FORAGE AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION. THE TREES ARE MANAGED FOR HIGH-VALUE SAWLOGS, PROVIDE SHADE AND SHELTER FOR LIVESTOCK AND FORAGE, REDUCING STRESS AND SOMETIMES INCREASING FORAGE PRODUCTION. WE WILL USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO DESIGN AN INTEGRATED TIMBER/GRAZING PRACTICE USING TWO CONIFER SPECIES (LOBLOLLY AND LONGLEAF PINES) THAT WILL ALLOW HIGH VALUE SAW LOGS TO BE GROWN AS A LONG-TERM PRODUCT, WHILE ON THE SAME ACREAGE ANNUAL INCOME CAN BE GENERATED FROM GRAZING LIVESTOCK. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF SILVOPASTURE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (I) ECONOMIC RISK IS R EDUCED BECAUSE THE SYSTEM PRODUCES MULTIPLE PRODUCTS; (II) WELL MANAGED FORAGE PRODUCTION PROVIDES IMPROVED NUTRITION FOR LIVESTOCK AND ENHANCE CARBON SEQUESTRATION OPPORTUNITIES; (III) IN AREAS IN THE BOUNDARIES WHERE WEED COMPETITION FOR MOISTURE, NUTRIENTS AND SUNLIGHT IS EMINENT, BROWSING CAN BE USED TO CONTROL THE WEED AND ENHANCE THE GROWTH OF TREES; (IV) WELL MANAGED BROWSING PROVIDES ECONOMICAL CONTROL OF WEEDS AND BRUSH WITHOUT HERBICIDES, MAINTAINS FIRE BREAKS AND REDUCES HABITAT FOR GROWING RODENTS; (V) FERTILIZER APPLIED FOR FORAGE IS ALSO USED BY TREES, AND IN ADDITION, LIVESTOCK MANURE RECYCLES NUTRIENTS TO TREES AND FORAGE; (VI) SOME FORAGES CONTAIN CONDENSED TANNIN THAT INHIBIT THE GROWTH OF PARASITES; (VII) TREES THAT PROVIDE SHADE OR WIND PROTECTION CAN HAVE A CLIMATE STABILIZING EFFECT TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS AND WIND-CHILL OF LIVESTOCK; (VIII) THE FORAGE PROTECTS THE SOIL FROM WATER AND WIND EROSION, WHILE ADDING ORGANIC MATTER TO IMPROVE SOIL PROPERTIES AND ENHANCING ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE; AND (X) IN CONTRAST TO CONCENTRATED LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS, THIS AGROFORESTRY PRACTICE IS LESS LIKELY TO RAISE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS RELATED TO WATER QUALITY, ODORS, DUST, NOISE, DISEASE PROBLEMS AND ANIMAL TREATMENT. TO MEET THE STRATEGIES IN THE 2018-2022 RREA STRATEGIC PLAN, OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, USDA-NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICES AND FARM SERVICES AGENCY WILL BRING THE SYNERGY TO INTEGRATE OUR EFFORTS ON CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY GOING FORWARD.