Two recent studies by the University of Tennessee (one in collaboration with the University of Kentucky) provide key insights into the evolving landscape of fruit and vegetable farming in the Southeastern United States, focusing on high tunnel production challenges in Kentucky and the adoption potential of alley cropping in Tennessee. These findings highlight both the obstacles growers face and the strategies they are considering to improve sustainability and productivity.
The second study examines the willingness of Tennessee fruit and vegetable farmers to adopt alley cropping systems, a practice that integrates trees or shrubs with crop production to enhance soil health, diversify income streams, and improve overall farm resilience. The research assessed the factors that could influence Tennessee fruit and vegetable farmers' willingness to adopt alley cropping, such as familiarity with the production system, economic incentives for adoption, land and labor availability, production challenges faced, age, education, and risk preferences. Understanding farmers' perspectives on this system provides crucial insights for policymakers and extension services aiming to promote agroforestry-based solutions, specifically alley cropping.
According to the author. "The motivation of the project focusing on high tunnel production is to evaluate the efficacy of soil solarization as a viable pest and disease management method in the upper southeastern region of the United States. The project focusing on alley cropping aims to establish alley cropping as a viable solution for vegetable production in the southeastern United States."