Together we can increase the value of our existing trees.
Farm bonus! Thanks to the grant funding this project, we can compensate you for the time it takes to show us the great tree(s) on your Yates County area farm!
Agroforestry is rising. Agroforestry is trees + food + multi. Multi- is more of an idea than a word, but if land is growing food, trees and involves some dimension of multi (multicrop, multistrata, multi-species, multifunctional, etc.), it’s probably agroforestry. And a growing agroforestry sector needs more trees, nuts and tree seed. Nut trees are naturally multi-, capable of producing timber, nuts, shade, forage, habitat, biomass and even high-quality edible oil. Tree genetics, site specifics and various planting and care practices all influence specific tree outcomes.
Making sure we can put the right trees in the right place in the future requires conserving key tree genetics now. Yates County area farms are a great place to look for gaps in the existing set of tree genetics used for nut tree cultivation. Almost all farms in Yates County are family farms, and multigenerational farms have hidden treasures. This summer (2025), we’re looking for butternut trees, hickory trees, and trees that grow nuts that families eat. We want to collect leaf samples for genetic analysis from these trees from late May through June, when the leaf quality is best.
Here’s How It Works:
1) Let us know about your Yates County area butternut, hickory or food-providing nut trees using this link.
2) We’ll come visit your tree and get a leaf sample.
3) We’ll send the leaf sample to a lab.
4) Lab results will help us identify trees whose genetics could strengthen future agroforestry projects.
Learn more at this project-affiliated community event:
In partnership with Yates County Farm Bureau, who worked in partnership with Schuyler County Farm Bureau, an invitational “Picnic in the Pasture” event has been planned on May 20 at Angus Glen Farms (3050 Station Road, Watkins Glen) from 6:00 – 8:00 pm which showcases working nut trees on the farm. At Angus Glen Farms, Brett Chezdoy and his family maintain a large cow-calf grass-fed herd on 500 acres of rotationally grazed pasture and silvopasture (pastures with well-spaced trees) to improve the soil, forest and forage health while protecting the world-famous watershed of the Watkins Glen State Park gorge and Seneca Lake. Members of the Yates and Schuyler agricultural community are welcome to register for this free community event. Pre-registration is required and registration is capped at 75 participants.
2024 project results
Last year, we were able to collect and assess 1306 lbs of raw seed (427 lbs after the seeds were hulled and the bad ones discarded) from species which included black walnut, butternut, shagbark hickory, shellbark hickory, pignut hickory and red oak. Our Fall 2024 results signal that those wanting to grow healthy, productive black walnut trees in the future could confidently plant a mix of black walnut seed collected from multiple trees across Yates County. We also identified a 200+ yr old Yates County shellbark hickory tree, previously known to the owner, family and friends, as a producer of premium seed, a tree from which annual seed collection should be prioritized.
This initiative is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (NE SARE) under subaward number ONE24-463. Farmers whose trees we visit are eligible for an additional $100 compensation for spending time they could spend otherwise showing us their tree(s), issued on a rolling basis. Black Squirrel Farms is proud to be working with NE SARE to help deliver a future where all farmers and farm employees can steward resources to ensure agricultural resilience, economic viability, and a high quality of life.
Got questions or having trouble with a link or form? Check our Q&A list or reach out to sara@tylerseneca.com / 832-493-3419.
Black Squirrel Farms 