Top 10 Reasons You Should Own a High Tunnel

by Growers Supply on January 12, 2012

High tunnels are the newest craze in the growing community and at Growers Supply, we love them! Do you have one yet? If not, here are the top ten reasons a high tunnel can change your growing operation for the better, whether you are a hobbyist or own a big garden center.

1. Extended growing season

High tunnels can be big moneymakers if you plan to sell the crops you grow. Within a season or two, you will have earned back the money you spent on the high tunnel with the produce you are selling at market because high tunnels are season extenders. Now, you will be able to start growing earlier in the spring and grow later into the fall because the high tunnel provides your crops with the shelter they need from the elements. When you are growing desirable crops in the off season, imagine how much more they will sell for!

2. Protection from the elements

When you grow inside a high tunnel, you are doing your plants a big favor. High tunnels keep out the wind, reducing stress on growing plants, and making them healthier and stronger. Also, you are in total control of the amount of moisture that reaches your plants, as well as how often it gets there because high tunnels keep out the rain. Is frost an issue in your area? Not anymore! High tunnels will protect your crops so you can grow later into the fall and earlier in the spring.

3. Higher crop yields

Since your growing season is extended when you are using a high tunnel, it only makes sense that you will end up with a higher yield. The more time that you can grow, the more crops that can reach maturity and the more money you can make at market! Not interested in selling your crops? Why not focus on sustainable growing? Think of all the extra homegrown food you could provide to your family and friends. This will save you money on groceries and decrease your carbon footprint.

4. Faster crop yields

If you are used to growing outside in an exposed garden or raised bed, you will be shocked at how much quicker your crops grow inside of a high tunnel. The idea behind the high tunnel is to create the perfect environment for raising plants, with stable temperatures, easy ventilation, weed-free soil and more. Not only can you grow for longer each year, but each crop cycle is shorter, leading to a much larger number of crops ready to eat or sell each year.

5. Climate control

Climate control in greenhouses is usually done with fans,heaters, thermostats and exhaust shutters, but in a high tunnel climate control is built in. The sides on high tunnels usually roll up or drop down, providing you with an easy way to let heat and humidity out, while allowing a cool breeze to roll over your crops. When the cold starts to set in, keep your sides covered and close your doors to trap the valuable heat inside where it belongs. Can you believe there are no electricity costs and very little manual labor associated with keeping temperatures stable in a high tunnel? It’s true!

6. Less labor

High tunnel growing is easy! Less weeding is necessary because your plants are inside. Also, fewer pests and animals will be able to get in, saving you time trying to protect your crops from these destructive little creatures. There is also less labor associated with things like soil maintenance and irrigation, which we will get to next.

7. Easier to irrigate

Since a high tunnel is a controlled area for growing crops year after year, there is no need to worry about rain affecting your own irrigation plans, and you also don’t have to fuss with a hose or watering can to make sure your plants get the water they need. You can install a permanent drip irrigation system when your high tunnel goes up, and watering will be made easy for many seasons to come.

8. Easier to manage soil

The crops you grow in a high tunnel are simply planted in the soil you built your structure over. There is no need to bring in expensive top soil and build up a collection of soil enhancers like you would need to do in a greenhouse that is built on a concrete foundation. Each year, you may have to till the soil before you plant again, but essentially you are just learning to manage the same soil year after year until you know what it needs like the back of your hand.

9. More comfortable to work in

It makes sense that if your plants feel stress during high winds and bad weather, you may be more stressed and much less comfortable in those conditions as well. When tending to your plants in a high tunnel, you are also protected from the elements and can work more comfortably and more quickly in this covered area with more stable temperatures.

10. Government incentives

There are a few great government incentives associated with purchasing a high tunnel in the United States right now. First, there may be tax write offs available if you are using the land you own for agricultural use. A high tunnel on your land can count towards this write off. Make sure to contact someone from your state or local agricultural extension agency to find out if you personally are eligible for this benefit. There is also a great program going on through the NRCS called “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” that is awarding funding to qualified growers looking to start using a high tunnel to grow their crops. All you need to do is contact your local NRCS agent and find out how you can apply. To find your local office, visit the USDA Service Center Locator.

So there they are, the top ten reasons a high tunnel is the best thing since sliced bread for growers like you. Growers Supply can help you design the perfect high tunnel for your growing needs with a little help from a knowledgeable National Account Manager or a visit to GrowersSupply.com. Happy growing!

1.9 Million Worms Chomp Down Airport Waste in North Carolina

by Tafline Laylin, 12/19/12

The Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina has deployed 1.9 million worms to turn a boatload of organic waste into fertilizer. Every day the airport housekeeping department headed by Bob Lucas processes 2.5 tons of waste, including plastic, clothing, aluminum and food tossed out by rushed passengers, NPR reports. The recyclables are pulled out from the pile and sold and the organic waste is transferred to a giant composting bin where the army of red wigglers go to work.

The worms are stored in a 50 foot long composting bin, where they happily chomp down on food waste that has spent a few days in a tank to accelerate the decomposition process. The resulting fertilizer is used to nourish the facility’s flower beds and shrubs.

The airport’s new recycling program cost $1.2 million to implement four months ago, but already 70% of its waste has been diverted from the landfill. And in five years, they expect to start making a profit from their trash sales. Katherine Preston, environmental affairs director for Airports Council International-North America, told NPR that this is the first such composting and recycling program that she knows of.

source: http://inhabitat.com/1-9-million-worms-eat-chomp-down-airport-waste-in-north-carolina/

Frequently Asked Questions on the NRCS High Tunnel Program

by Growers Supply on December 27, 2012

As high tunnels grow in popularity for season extension, the USDA is investing in their success. To conduct research on high tunnel production, the NRCS is conducting a program in which they fund farmers’ high tunnels in exchange for three years worth of data on their high tunnel growing. This funding is being sought after by growers all over the country and Growers Supply customers have a variety of questions regarding the program and whether or not they qualify for funding. Here are some of the most popular.

General Questions

1. Do you find that there is a particular package or configuration NRCS will support? I would like to maximize their support and get as much as I can (without being too greedy).

There are specific packages. In fact, there are national requirements, one being that the cover must be at least 6 mil or greater, another that you must have, at minimum, a 6′ peak height. Aside from that, it’s really been up to the states to make those decisions. We tend to do a majority of our business in our Premium High Tunnel because it comes with the 4′ rafter spacing, ends and it’s not going to be the highest cost per square foot. There is the model with the straight sidewall called the Pro Solar Star, which is a bit fancier. It’s a very nice tunnel, but you are going to pay for the upgrade. Basically, once you get your contract, we can tell you exactly how much you can spend per square foot.

2. Have you sold or designed any high tunnels for grape growing? We are growers with both new vines and established vineyards suffering from spring and fall frost crop loss and winter die back due to killing cold temperatures.

We absolutely have and in fact, grapes can be considered for the NRCS program. The only issue would be height, but we would look into a high side wall model for you. If you are in a similar situation and aren’t sure if a high tunnel will work for you, feel free to contact us and we can discuss your options.

3. Do you have to be an existing farmer to apply for NRCS funding, or can you be beginning on a new site?

No, you do not need to be an existing farmer. However, if you are not an existing farmer and you can’t prove your status of being a farmer by producing previous year’s tax refunds or receipts, you have to be able to present a business plan describing exactly how that high tunnel would help you achieve your goals. Talk to your local NRCS agent about that, but still apply. In fact, there is some additional funding for “beginning farmers” and you would fall into that category.

4. Why am I required to submit all my banking information (direct deposit slip) with the application? It seems like that info would be required after I’ve been selected. I don’t like giving that kind of info out if I don’t have to.

Direct deposit is how the USDA will give the funds to you after they’ve done their final site visit. The account must be linked to the USDA system, which sometimes takes up to two weeks to accomplish. They would like to have it up front so there is no delay once the tunnel is up, that way they can pay you immediately. Essentially what that means is you purchase the high tunnel, your rep comes out, inspects it, stamps off on the final paperwork and then the funds are allocated to you.

5. Is there a limit on land you own?

No, you actually do not need to own the land. As long as you can have a contract indicating that you will lease the land where the high tunnel will be built for the three-year program, you can absolutely still apply.

 

High Tunnels

1. Is there a design that works better for high snow and wind areas?

That depends on the width that you’re looking at. In the narrower widths, the gothic models tend to do very well. A 20′ wide gothic does nicely because it is very pointy so the snow slides right off. As you get wider, the slope of the gothic model levels out; it’s not as extreme, so in the wider models we recommend the round. You always want to use 4′ rafter spacing and, if you get extreme snow, we can actually add truss packages to the peak that are like special cross struts up in the peak of the building.

2. What are the best practices for ventilation?

Roll-up sides are a great option for ventilation. The other benefit of the premium tunnel is that the end panels are actually zippered openings. In the summer months, it is great to leave them wide open. When the sides are rolled up, and the end panels are in the up position, it is literally four sides of ventilation. For those in very extreme climates, a supplemental shade cloth may be a good idea. In altitudes where you have extreme solar gain, or further in the south where it gets very hot, a shade cloth is great way to cut off excess heat. In 2011, they started allowing some states to add supplemental fans. We

encourage people to try a season without a fan as this will limit the upfront cost. If you have to, you can call us later and order a fan, but often you have plenty of ventilation with the roll-up sides.

3. How sturdy are the high tunnels and what goes into maintaining the structures?

It comes down to the frame and covering. The high tunnels we are promoting for the NRCS program boast very good warranties. The covering material has a four year guarantee, and in most areas of the country you can get five years out of it. As film degrades the light quality diminishes, so even though it looks like it is in good shape, we recommend replacing the film about every four years. For those of you in other climates, sometimes five years is fine. Replacing the cover on a tunnel ends up costing less than 10% of the purchase price. For example, if you buy a $5,000 tunnel you are looking at about $500 worth of maintenance every four years. The frame is constructed from triple-galvanized steel, so the frame will hold up indefinitely.

4. How portable are these structures? Can I set them up and move them later?

High tunnels are quite portable and are very easy to disassemble and move to a new location. Their design and construction contribute to their portability. They are mounted to the ground with a ground post anchor, meaning at every rafter leg there is metal pipe driven into the ground. The rafter leg slides over the top and bolts to the pipe. We actually have had a large number of clients who essentially put their structure on a wooden sled. They mount their high tunnels on a 2” x 4’ or 6” x 6’and periodically move them. However, this is not recommended for a 30′W x 72′L high tunnel. For the duration of the NRCS program high tunnels cannot be moved. Soil quality and water runoff are being monitored during this time, but once the three-year program is over, you can easily move your structure.

NRCS Program

1. What is the purpose of the program?

The purpose of the program is to promote locally grown food. It is for season extension and it’s to get better, healthier food.

2. What is the typical dollar amount granted?

We’ve seen anything from $4,000 to $8,000. The average, though, is right around $5,000.

3. Do we know how long the NRCS funding will continue?

Through this year at least, and we’re hoping for another year. Originally it was just a three-year pilot, but we’re hoping for an extension since this is technically the third year.

4. If there were no grants in the state does that mean grants are not available?

Unfortunately, if your state has not picked up the program yet, there are not grants available for that program. We recommend checking in with your local NRCS office to see what other opportunities are available. Beyond high tunnel agriculture the NRCS can be very helpful with irrigation for farms. A lot of folks are not aware that it is really a resource meant for small farms. Even if you don’t think you can join the high tunnel program, you should still start a relationship with your agent because you’d be amazed at what funding is available.

5. Does the NRCS program cover animal tunnels too?

No. You may not use your high tunnel for anything other than produce sales while you’re under contract. In fact, you could get in a bit of trouble and they could technically pull funding.

6. Is there a link to the national application?

No. It actually needs to be provided to you by your NRCS agent, so we recommend sending them an email. You can contact us though and we can tell you what form number you need to ask for.

For more information on the specifics of the program, we recommend talking with your local NRCS agent for the most accurate answers. We are more than willing to help you get in contact with this person or do our best to answer your questions. Contact a knowledgeable National Account Manager for all of your high tunnel questions and some more details on the NRCS program.

source: http://growerssupply.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-nrcs-high-tunnel-program/

Drip Irrigation

Entry into High Value Produce Markets

Drip irrigation provides farmers the most efficient way to grow crops in water scarce areas, but historically has been too expensive for small-plot farmers. After first approaching manufacturers of commercial drip irrigation systems, IDE developed its own design for small farmers. Our designers lowered the cost of drip systems by replacing conventional emitters with holes and micro tubes, shifting water distribution lines extending to crops, and customizing system layouts for small plots. Development of a hanging plastic water storage bag further lowered the cost to about $5 for a household garden kit covering 20 square meters (215 square feet). In fact, any plot under .4 hectare (one acre) can benefit from these systems, but their modular design allows for expansion above that. They provide water savings of 30–70 percent, greatly reduce labor, and accurately deliver fertilizers. This makes cultivation during the dry season possible, with resulting yield increases of up to 30 percent.

IDE promotes drip irrigation throughout the developing world. Our drip systems have helped people with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe to improve their nutrition by growing vegetables, as well as coffee-growing families in Nicaragua by reducing the flowering time of plants from three years to one and a half years. In 2008, IDE sold approximately 8,500 drip systems to small farmers across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

source: http://uk.ideorg.org/OurTechnologies/DripIrrigation.aspx IDE's Water Technologies