by NCAT agriculture specialists Tammy Hinman and Andy Pressman

by NCAT agriculture specialists Tammy Hinman and Andy Pressman

Benef its of high tunnels 3 Extend the growing season on either side 3 More protective environment frost, temperature fluctuations, precipitation, wind or excess moisture that delays planting or cultivation 3 Reduce risk and enhance quality of the harvest 3 Typically higher yield than field grown

Benef its, continued Photo courtesy of Martin and Christa Stosiek, Markristo Farm, Hillsdale, NY

Hoop houses 3 Low technology 3 Low cost 3 Increase cash flow Photo courtesy of SPIN Farming

Types of hoop houses Low tunnel High tunnel Photo courtesy of SPIN Farming Photo by Michael McNair, NCAT

Low tunnels Photo courtesy of SPIN Farming Positives (+): Inexpensive Easy to install Easy to change covers Photo courtesy of www.plasticulture.org Negatives (-): Labor intensive Limits harvests

High tunnels Solo bay Multi bay Photo by Rex Dufour, NCAT Photo courtesy of Alex Hitt

High tunnel shapes Gothic vs. Quonset Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm Photo by Rex Dufour, NCAT

Lengths and widths Photos by Andy Pressman, NCAT

Narrow tunnel heat loss 3 10 x 90 = 200 lineal perimeter and 900 square foot area 3 30 x 70 = 200 lineal perimeter and 2,100 square foot area Source: Blomgren and Tracy Frisch. 2007. High Tunnels. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Moveable hoop houses Photo courtesy of Chef s Garden

Season extensions Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm Photo courtesy of Alex Hitt

Hoop house uses - crops Photo courtesy of www.plasticulture.org Photo courtesy of www.haygrove.co.uk

Why not livestock? Photo courtesy of www.haygrove.co.uk Photo courtesy of www.haygrove.co.uk

Site selection Photo courtesy of SPIN Farming Photo courtesy of Alex Hitt

Orientation Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm

Ventilation Photo by Rex Dufour, NCAT Photo courtesy of Alex Hitt

Here we go! Photo by Andy Pressman, NCAT

Ground posts Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm Photo by Andy Pressman, NCAT

Frame Wood, steel, PVC, electric conduit Photo courtesy of SPIN Farming Photo by Andy Pressman, NCAT

Frame, continued Bow Crossties, drops, braces, trusses Photo by Andy Pressman, NCAT Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm

Frame, continued Purlin Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm

Base boards Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm

Hip boards Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm

End walls Photo by Michael McNair, NCAT Photo by Rex Dufour, NCAT Photo by Katherine Adam, NCAT

NOP regulations 205.206(f) states that producers must not use lumber that has been treated with arsenates or other prohibited materials where it can contact soil or livestock. 205.206(c)(6) states that plastic or other synthetic mulches must be removed from the field at the end of the growing or harvest season. CONTACT YOUR CERTIFIER

Agriculture plastics (a) IR Blocking plastic (b) Anti-condensate additives Double vs. single layer Interior row covers Plastic Photo courtesy of www.plasticulture.org Photo courtesy of Ledgewood Farm

Roll-up sides Photo by Michael McNair, NCAT Photo by Rex Dufour, NCAT

Layout Lateral bed layout Longitudinal layout 3 by 14 feet 3 by 14 feet 1-foot path 2-foot path 1-foot path 40-inch bed 18-inch path These illustrations adapted from: Blomgren, T. and Frisch, T. 2007. Hightunnels. University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Production in your hoop house Soil fertility Bed preparation Crops and crop sequences Weeds and pest management in the hoop house Photo by Michael McNair, NCAT

Start with healthy soil with good structure Maintain soil structure through adding organic matter and growing green manures Avoid salinization Soil management Photo courtesy of www.myevergreenfarm.com

Adding nutrients Photo courtesy of www.myevergreenfarm.com

Hoop house cropping systems Photos courtesy of www.haygrove.co.uk See the ATTRA pub Scheduling Vegetable Planting for Continuous Harvest for more information at www.attra.ncat.org

Raised beds Photo courtesy of Cory and Shanti Rade, Whipstone Farm Photo by Michael McNair, NCAT

Containers Photo courtesy of Burnin Daylight Farm Photo courtesy of Cory and Shanti Rade, Whipstone Farm

Plastic Photo by Michael McNair, NCAT Photo by Andy Pressman, NCAT

Irrigation options Drip is a good option for most hoop house crops You are less likely to have scald and disease problems Photo by Katherine Adam, NCAT Photo courtesy of The Drip Store

Weed management Mulches offer weed management options in the hoop house Photo by Dr. Lewis Jett, West Virginia University

Common diseases in hoop houses: Leaf mold Canker Verticillium wilt Powdery mildew Disease management Some root rot Photo by Leanne Pundt, University of Connecticut Extension

Encourage beneficials Prevent entry through screening Scout and monitor Introduce beneficials/ insectary crops Insect management Photo from www.clipart.com

Common hoop house insect pests Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org Photo by Frank Peairs, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org See ATTRA s Biorational Database www.attra.ncat.org Photo courtesy of Central Science Laboratory, Harpenden Archive, Bugwood.org

1. Develop an enterprise budget for crops in the hoop house 2. Plan your crops for markets Economics and marketing Photo courtesy of Martin and Christa Stosiek, Markristo Farm

Sample enterprise budget - Hoop house tomato Fixed costs Construction costs Materials Labor Site prep (tractor, labor) $60 $48 High tunnel layout $10 $48 Frame and construction $5,000 $576 Lumber, hardware, labor $800 $384 Endwall finishing $50 $12 Water service $50 $12 Irrigation $100 $32 Backup heater $225 Weed mat $200 Harvest containers $200 Subtotals $6,895 $1,244 Total construction costs $8,139 Fixed costs High tunnel construction (divided over 15 years) $543 Interest (construction financed at 7% for 15 years) $285 Taxes, land, office expenses, fees $800 Total fixed costs $1,627 Total fixed costs (6 month tomato crop $814 This is adapted from Blomgren, T. and Frisch, T. 2007. Hightunnels. University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Sample enterprise budget, continued Variable costs Materials and machinery Cost Plants $700 Fertilizer and compost $175 Irrigation field supplies $10 Stakes, string, clips $200 Heater fuel $75 Bees for pollination $100 Poly covering (divided by 4 years) $200 Misc. supplies, repairs, maintenance $150 Subtotal $1,610 Labor costs Bed prep and fertilizer $144 Transplanting, irrigation, weed mat $144 Site mowing and weeding $144 Pruning and trellising $576 Harvesting, grading packing $480 High tunnel cleanup $120 Annual maintenance $96 Environmental management $360 Subtotal $2,064 Total variable costs $3,674 This is adapted from Blomgren, T. and Frisch, T. 2007. Hightunnels. University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Net return - Hoop house tomato production Total costs $4,488 Revenues $8,750 * Net return $4,262 *Based on a yield of 3,500 pounds per 14x144 hoop house. The tomatoes are assigned a value of $2.50 per pound. Photo courtesy of Dr. Lewis Jett; West Virginia University

Marketing your hoop house crops Photos courtesy of Dr. Lewis Jett, West Virginia University Direct marketing Direct wholesale (restaurants) Wholesale marketing

Direct marketing options Photos courtesy of Markristo Farm

Wholesale Photo courtesy of Markristo Farm

Thank you! Questions? andyp@ncat.org tammyh@ncat.org visit www.attra.ncat.org for more information