Agriculture News

June 22, 2017

Explore benefits of high tunnels during Indiana field day demos

High tunnel High tunnels at Full Hand Farm in Noblesville, Ind., will be among the highlights of a field day tour hosted by Purdue Extension and Indiana University. (Indiana University photo/Analena Bruce) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Are you looking for ways to increase the economic stability of your farm or to sell fresh vegetables right up to Thanksgiving or Christmas? How about getting an early start on raising produce in the spring? If so, a high tunnel may be a great option to increase the productivity of your farm operations.

Purdue Extension and Indiana University are collaborating to offer three field days featuring high tunnels, geared towards Hoosier farmers who own or manage specialty crop operations and are interested in using high tunnels. The events will be hosted July 18 at the Meigs Horticulture Research Farm in Lafayette; Aug. 10 at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in Vincennes; Aug. 15 at the Pinney Purdue Agricultural Center in Wanatah; and Sept. 27 at the Hamilton County Extension Office and Full Hand Farm in Noblesville.

High tunnels are similar to greenhouses except they are heated solely by passive solar energy and cooled solely by opening sidewalls or roof vents. The low-cost structures protect plants from adverse weather and low temperatures, making it possible for farmers to increase the quality and yield of their crops. Farmers using high tunnels are able to extend the growing season earlier in the spring and later in the fall. As a result, they can produce more fresh food while increasing their economic stability.

A collaborative research team from Indiana University and Purdue University evaluated the farm-level impacts of high tunnel use throughout Indiana. The study was designed to gather more insights on successful high tunnel management. The team will present their research findings during the field day events. Also, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will explain the opportunities available to Hoosier farmers through the High Tunnel System Initiative.

The High Tunnel System Initiative offers a cost-share incentive for Hoosier farmers to obtain a high tunnel for their farm. The program is offered through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) managed by the NCRS to improve plant and soil quality, reduce nutrient and pesticide runoff, and increase the availability of fresh vegetables and fruits for local food markets. 

Each event will offer educational programming and opportunities for networking and discussion of issues related to growing vegetables and other specialty crops in high tunnels.  The programs, which include general guidelines for new high tunnel users, focus on site and structure selection; considerations for irrigation and drainage; tomato, cucurbit and winter greens production; and common management challenges. 

The series responds to popular interest and requests from growers for research-based information, and the opportunity to learn from more experienced farmers.

Details for the four field days are as follows: 

  • Meigs Horticulture Research Farm High Tunnel Field Day
  • Date: Tuesday, July 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (EDT)
  • Location: Meigs Horticulture Research Farm, 9101 S. 100 E, Lafayette, Ind., 47909
  • Registration: Visit http://tinyurl.com/yc5lqvez or call 765-494-1296
  • For more information, contact: Lori Jolly-Brown at 765-494-1296 or ljollybr@purdue.edu 

The field day at Meigs Horticulture Farm will focus on high tunnel production of cucurbit crops. It will feature tours of conventional and hydroponic high tunnel cucumber and melon production. The use of insect-exclusion screens to control cucumber beetles and bacterial wilt will be on display in the conventional high tunnel systems. Presentations on vegetable grafting and future research in tomato systems also will be included in the tour. Attendees will also have an opportunity to discuss current challenges and future directions of research areas for high tunnel production systems. Lunch will be provided.

  • Southwest Purdue Ag Center High Tunnel Tour
  • Date: Thursday, August 10, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (EDT)
  • Location: Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, 4669 North Purdue Road, Vincennes, Ind., 47591
  • Registration: Call 812-886-0198
  • For more information, contact: Wenjing Guan at guan40@purdue.edu or Dan Egel at egel@purdue.edu 

During the evening event at Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, attendees will tour ongoing tomato and cucurbit trials conducted in high tunnel systems. The tour also will feature disease and insect management in high tunnel systems and a presentation on the potential of using grafting technology to enhance yield. In addition to viewing state-of-the-art high tunnels, attendees will see a demo of an innovative season-long low tunnel system used for growing tomatoes and peppers, and gain insights on the NRCS high tunnel cost-share program and how to choose, locate and make other pre-construction decisions for a high tunnel.

  • Pinney Purdue Vegetable and High Tunnel Field Day
  • Date: Tuesday, Aug. 15, 5 p.m. -8:30 p.m. (CDT)
  • Location: Pinney Purdue Agricultural Center, 11402 South County Line Road, Wanatah, Ind. 46390
  • Registration: Visit http://tinyurl.com/yc5lqvez or call 219-386-5232
  • For more information, contact: Kym Schwinkendorf at kschwink@purdue.edu or 219-386-5232. 

The field day at Pinney Purdue Agricultural Center will feature tours of tomato production in moveable high tunnels, using both conventional and organic management systems. The event also will include walking tours of sweet corn and pumpkin variety trials, an overview of research findings about the opportunities available through high tunnels, and information about the NRCS program. Attendees will learn about managing pollinators; low-cost high tunnel structures for the home gardener; irrigation solutions; site and structure considerations for new high tunnel users; and finding, preserving and preparing fresh produce. Private applicator recertification credits (PARP) are anticipated. This event includes a dinner and sweet corn variety tasting. 

  • Purdue Beginning Farmer Program/Full Hand Farm Tour
  • Date: Wednesday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (EDT)
  • Locations: Hamilton County Extension Office (9 a.m. - 1 p.m), 2003 Pleasant St, Noblesville, Ind., 46060 and Full Hand Farm (1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.), 3844 State Road 13 North, Noblesville, Ind., 46060
  • Registration: Visit  http://bit.ly/2puUV4I
  • For more information, contact: James Wolff at 260-481-6434 or jmwolff@purdue.edu; or Analena Bruce at 412-716-5040 or anabruce@indiana.edu  

This fall event, which is part of the Purdue Beginning Farmer Program, includes educational workshops on top considerations for site and high tunnel structure selection, and advice on managing pests that are common in high tunnels. During an afternoon tour at Full Hand Farm, attendees will observe a successful high tunnel operation that utilizes moveable high tunnel systems. Full Hand Farm is a diverse vegetable farm that produces winter salad greens and a variety of other specialty crops. Lunch will be provided to pre-registrants. Registration is limited. 

Writers: Analena Bruce, anabruce@indiana.edu; Liz Maynard, emaynard@purdue.edu 

Media contact: Shari Finnell, sfinnell@purdue.edu 

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Shari Finnell, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, sfinnell@purdue.edu  
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