The 2009 ASHS Annual Conference

A multidiscipline and multiinstitutional high tunnel extension and research project was initiated in the Central Great Plains in 2002.  High tunnel producers in the region were surveyed from 2002-2008 to evaluate production and marketing practices and to determine research and extension priorities. Rapid adoption of high tunnels as season extension tools was observed over the course of this project with growers producing a diversity of crops with high profit potential per land area.  Most high tunnel crops were direct marketed locally through community farmer’s markets.  Gross revenue exceeded $2.00/ft² of high tunnel area per year. Grower respondents indicated that knowledge was less of an impediment to expanded high tunnel production over the course of the project, yet labor and capital could often be limiting factors to high tunnel adoption.  Temperature management within the high tunnel was cited as the most challenging production issue.