Hi I'm Kaitie Adams welcome to Memorial 4-H Camp at Savanna Institute agroforestry
demonstration Farm in 2020 the Savanna Institute partnered with the University
of Illinois, Lourash Farms, and Memorial 4-H Camp to establish a 35-acre alley
cropping demonstration this alley cropping demonstration features native nurse trees a
Black Locust for timber trial as well as an innovative ground cover experiment where
we're tracking labor hours as well as health of trees during establishment let's go check it out
Alley cropping is an in-field agroforestry practice where rows of trees are planted
into productive agricultural systems. While alley cropping can be done with any crops at any scale,
on the 35 acres at 4-H Memorial Camp, located at Allerton Park in East Central Illinois,
we planted 6 blocks of native timber trees into conventional corn and soybean grain production.
This demonstration is designed to match our farmer partner’s equipment, planting,
spraying, and harvest schedule, as well as, their production goals.
The alleys of row crops are 200’ wide to accommodate two different sizes of machinery
with 90’ headlands for turning at the ends of rows. The trees are planted in rows that run West
to East. This orientation was intentional, as it matched the cropping pattern of our farmer partner
and helps stop and slow water from rainfall events that runs from the NE to the SW part of the field.
The tree blocks are 30’ wide and vary from 1,300 to 650 ft long and each accommodate 3 rows of
trees. The first row of trees in each block are planted 5’ from the alley, the second row is
10’ from the first, and the 3rd row is 10’ from the 2nd and then 5 ft from the adjacent alley.
In all three rows, the trees are planted 10’ apart. This will not be the final spacing, but
dense planting establishment helps ensure quality timber production, tree survival, and habitat.
The timber species, Swamp White Oak, Black Walnut, and Shagbark Hickory,
are planted in the middle row. The two outer rows are smaller statured native
trees and shrubs that will act as nurse plants and vital habitat for wildlife.
Three blocks also feature a black locust for timber experiment where Savanna Institute is
tracking tree growth rates and habits including thorn, pod, and sucker production. This tree,
native to Illinois, has the potential to be a fast-growing, sustainable timber option
for agroforestry systems and is also one of the few woody species that fixes nitrogen in soil.
On all three blocks, we’re also conducting a groundcover experiment where we’re looking
at three different maintenance options on two different groundcovers. The tree maintenance
options are: use of 3’ herbicide bands, which keep soil bare with no vegetation,
3’ plastic weed mats, which prevent weeds and keep moisture in soil, and mowing and weed wacking,
which keeps vegetation low, but in place. The two ground covers are a
low mow mix,composed of dutch white clover, perennial ryegrass, and turf-type fescue,
and a short-grass prairie mix, with native grasses and forbes. We’re currently tracking labor hours,
cost, and tree growth but plan to include biodiversity and pollinator counts, as well.
This multi-year work with multiple partners is made possible through long-term relationship
building, kind and consistent communication, and a strong lease which clearly outlines the
roles and responsibilities of each party. The 4-H Memorial Camp Demonstration Farm is an abundant,
increasingly diverse farm that is growing towards a future that showcases the power of both/and.
Both perennial production and annual cropping. Both established farmers and newer farmers. Both
woody and herbaceous. Both long term and short term. Both highly productive and healthy. Both
beautiful and hopeful. [Music]