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Sustainable silvopasture is popular with US farmers despite waning financial supports

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 21/10/2026, 14:39:24 UTC.

Briefings

US farmers are adopting sustainable silvopasture systems despite declining financial support, as demonstrated by Vermont couple Sabra Ewing and Sebastian Lousada who successfully integrated 80 apple and other tree varieties onto their 30-acre pasture. Their success relied on heritage sheep grazing under the trees, which enhanced grass quality and soil fertility, leading to increased wool, cider, and brandy production. The farm utilized a grant from the American Farmland Trust and USDA NRCS assistance to expand their tree coverage, transforming a tired dairy operation into a diversified, high-value agricultural enterprise.

Key points

• Vermont couple Sabra Ewing and Sebastian Lousada successfully integrated 80 varieties of apple and other trees onto their 30-acre pasture in Vermont.
• Heritage sheep grazing under the trees enhanced grass quality and soil fertility, enabling the farm to produce high-quality wool, hard cider, and brandy.

Context

Sustainable silvopasture is gaining traction in the US despite waning financial supports, as demonstrated by Vermont couple Sabra Ewing and Sebastian Lousada who successfully integrated 80 varieties of apple and other trees onto their 30-acre pasture.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to a single case study from Vermont; broader national trends, long-term sustainability data, or economic impact metrics beyond wool, cider, and brandy are not provided.

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