Today, many farmers and ranchers are diversifying crops to invest in the long-term production capacity of their land. Some research suggests that alley cropping offers promising benefits for soil health, water management, and farm productivity. But when Nichlos Pate of Raising Cane Ranch in Snohomish, Wash., attempted to expand fruit production on his beef and hay operation, he found very little information available about the benefits of growing hay in between the trees of his cider apple orchard.
Pate wanted to understand whether alley cropping, the practice of growing annual crops between rows of fruit trees or other perennials, could maintain hay yields while improving his operation’s soil health and long-term profitability. With support from a Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant, he studied the ecological and economic impacts of expanding an existing cider apple and hay alley cropping system.
Since 2021, over 1,700 farmers and ranchers have participated in research funded by Western SARE to advance innovative practices that improve profitability, stewardship, and quality of life in American agriculture.
Working with local farm advisors, Pate tracked establishment and maintenance costs, annual hay yields, and soil health indicators. He compared results from the new alley cropping field to both a previously established hay-apple field and a conventional hay field.
“SARE allowed me to take on that risk of an experiment, to do alley cropping,” says Pate.
Although the two-year project did not capture the long-term impacts of established orchard production, it provided a valuable baseline to guide future decision making. Pate shared results through farm tours, fact sheets, and outreach, reaching dozens of farmers and service providers. Several producers reported increased knowledge and interest in agroforestry practices, with some indicating plans to consider alley cropping systems based on what they learned.
Read Gaining New Insights into Alley Cropping to Share with Farmers in Western Washington for more information on this project.
Gaining New Insights into Alley Cropping to Share with Farmers in Western Washington is just one of 12 stories featured in SARE’s 2025/2026 Report from the Field. Download or order your free print copy at https://sare.org/report or by calling (301) 779–1007. 2025/2026 Report from the Field is available in quantity for free to educators for use in educational workshops, classes or tours.
For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.
