Who We Are
The Midwest Forest Farming coalition (MWFFC) is a network of farmers, landowners, universities, and other organizations with a shared goal of promoting the establishment and growth of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and producers in the Midwest.
The Midwest Forest Farming Coalition (MWFFC) was established in 2024 through a USDA 1890 Capacity Building Grant (CBG) project led by Dr. Sougata Bardhan, along with other faculty and students at Lincoln University of Missouri, Viginia Tech University, and the University of Missouri, to promote forest farming in the Midwest. This initiative builds on the successful models of the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition (AFFC, formerly ABFFC) and the Northeast Forest Farmers Coalition (NFFC), with the goal of expanding these efforts within the Midwest region. Dr. Bardhan has since moved to Tennessee State University, where he continues to support and advance agroforestry and soil research. Currently, the project is led by Dr. Isaac Hayford at Lincoln University.
What We Do
The goal of the MWFFC is to serve as a resource for people and organizations interested or involved in forest farming of NTFPs in Midwest. We do this through the following ways:
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We create and provide access to technical knowledge related to forest farming practices. Check out our 'Resources' page for more!
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We connect new and prospective forest farmers to experienced mentor farmers. If you are interested in providing or receiving mentorship, click the 'Join' page and fill out the survey to join our network.
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We host events such as workshops, trainings, and field days for forest farmers to learn and connect with one another. Check out our 'Event Calendar' page to stay up to date on events in your area.
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We engage in research through our partner institutions and through citizen science projects to advance the field of forest farming. Learn more about research being conducted by our partners through the links below, and stay tuned for ways to get involved in citizen science.
