What can the past teach us about the future of farming, conservation, and healthy rivers?

In this episode of It’s in Our Nature, host Adam McLane sits down with Zack Miller of The Nature Conservancy and Hannah Hemmelgarn of the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry to discuss agroforestry along the Missouri River.

Together, they explore the rich history of the Missouri River floodplain, how human activity transformed this landscape over time, and why agroforestry—a land management approach that integrates trees and shrubs with crops to create sustainable, productive, and ecologically diverse agricultural landscapes—is gaining renewed attention. From improving water quality and reducing flood impacts to creating new opportunities for farmers and landowners, agroforestry offers a powerful example of how working lands and nature can thrive together.

The conversation highlights the partnerships driving this work forward, the role of innovation rooted in tradition, and the hope that a more resilient future is possible for Missouri’s rivers, farms, and communities.

Guests:

• Zack Miller, Leveraging Our Lands Strategy Lead, The Nature Conservancy in Missouri
• Hannah Hemmelgarn, Associate Director & Assistant Research Professor, University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry