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Agroforestry Practices
Alley Cropping
Alley Cropping is planting rows of trees at wide spacings with a companion crop
grown in the alleyways between the rows. Alley cropping can diversify farm
income, improve crop production and provide protection and conservation benefits
to crops. Common examples of alley cropping plantings include wheat, corn,
soybeans or hay planted in between rows of black walnut or pecan trees.
Non-traditional or value added crops may also be incorporated for extra income,
including sunflowers or medicinal herbs planted in between rows of nut trees
alternated with nursery stock trees. Fine hardwoods like walnut, oak, ash, and
pecan are favored tree species in alley cropping systems and can potentially
provide high value lumber or veneer logs while income is derived from a
companion crop planted in the alleyways.
Alley Cropping Success Stories
Shepherd Farms, Clifton Hill, MO
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The landowner harvests annual crops of wheat and hay while the pecan
trees mature. |
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Dan Shepherd of Shepherd Farms, Clifton Hill, Mo., manages one of the state's
most established pecan and wheat alley cropping practice examples, in addition
to raising buffalo for processing into lean, high-quality meats and jerky.
Shepherd Farms is also a nationwide leader in production, retail and wholesale
distribution of Eastern Gamagrass. The farm has its own pecan cracking facility
and a large country store, stocked with fresh pecans, snack mixes featuring the
sweet nuts, and a variety of buffalo products. Due to its broad mix of
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Dan Shepherd of Clifton Hill, Mo., has utilized a successful alley cropping practice for several years, producing pecans for retail sale with wheat planted in the alleyways. |
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integrated farming practices and agritourism elements, Shepherd Farms is a
popular group tour destination and offers an educational experience showcasing
the benefits of agroforestry and farm diversity.
"Alley cropping is ideal for achieving both our production and conservation
benefits," said Shepherd. "We earn an annual income off the ground, while the
trees are being established. We also enjoy an abundance of wildlife in the
habitat created by alley cropping. While the crops are growing we see deer,
turkey, quail, utilizing this ground and the trees."
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Alley cropping is an attractive and efficient method for utilizing agricultural lands for both short and long-term income. |
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Corn can be alley cropped in between rows of black walnut.
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Traditional or alternative crops can be incorporated into an alley cropping practice. |
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Paul Smith
20-acre alley cropping practice
Northwest Missouri, near Claremont
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Paul Smith and his Black Walnut trees. |
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"In 1999 we seeded this field to orchard grass and alfalfa. The first cutting this year produced about 3 ton per acre, and I feel that we benefit from the alley cropping because we have a short term benefit of the crops between the tree rows -- and eventually, my family or someone else will benefit from the tree crop."
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This northwest Missouri landowner has an established black walnut and alfalfa alley cropping practice. |
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Learn more about alley cropping from the following UMCA resources, available for viewing or ordering from the Publications page:
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