High Tunnels Use in Specialty Crop Production

Feb 23, 2022

By Tatiana Sanchez

There are several reasons to consider building a high tunnel. The most common reasons include protecting crops from the elements, extension of cropping seasons, and improved crop yield and quality. Adoption of high tunnels has been favored by the High Tunnel System Initiative from NRCS-EQIP, which offers financial support to growers who wish to install a high tunnel on their farms. But this increased adoption needs to be supported with the information that helps producers succeed at growing crops in a new environment.

Many things change when you grow crops inside a high tunnel compared to an open field. Research is needed to understand what varieties perform better, and how water and nutrient requirements may change under these growing conditions. But how to prioritize what needs to be answered first? How do we even know how quickly will this industry grow?

A group of researchers at the University of Florida are investigating exactly this. They seek to develop a research-extension network to advance the emerging high tunnel vegetable industry in Florida. If you are a specialty crop producer, share your opinion to help us understand why you would adopt high tunnels, what prevents you from it or if you already have a high tunnel, what research needs would you prioritize. Online Survey: Florida Specialty Crop Growers

Source : ufl.edu

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.