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The economics of high tunnels

The economics of high tunnels. Ted Carey K-State Research and Extension tcarey@ksu.edu www.hightunnels.org. An unabashed promotion of high tunnels. With some words of caution Profitable production Practice makes perfect (with luck).

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The economics of high tunnels

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  1. The economics of high tunnels Ted Carey K-State Research and Extension tcarey@ksu.edu www.hightunnels.org

  2. An unabashed promotion of high tunnels With some words of caution • Profitable production • Practice makes perfect (with luck)

  3. High Tunnel (hoophouse) – A poly-covered greenhouse with relatively low input for environmental control. (relatively low cost) 30’ x 96’ Gothic Zimmerman’s, Versailles, MO 30? X 96’ Quonset with stove FarmTek Versailles, MO

  4. Homemade tunnels are less expensive but may be riskier PVC hoophouse K-State Portable field tunnel St Isidore Farm, MO

  5. Advantages of a High Tunnel: • Low-cost • Highly productive • Crop protection - disease, pest - quality • Season extension • Facilitates diverse production • Supplement field production

  6. Costs of high tunnels • Per structure or per square foot • $3500/(30’ x 96’) = $1.22/sq.ft. • Including extras, labor and freight • $3500 + $1500 = $5000 ($1.76/sq.ft.) • Spread out over time (10 years) • $500/year • Operating costs/management

  7. Costs of high tunnels(roughly) • FarmTek, Atlas, Stuppy $1200/(18’ x 24’) = $2.77 sq.ft. $5000/(30 x 96’) = $1.74 • Haygrove $22,000/(96’ x 200’) = $1.15 • Homemade $1000/(14’ x 100) = $0.71 $500/(18’ x 30) = $0.93

  8. High tunnel tomato budgets • Costs (fixed and variable) and sales price Penn State – 17’ x 96’ $2000 @ $0.80/lb (16 lb/plant) breakeven $0.36/lb University of Missouri – 20’ x 96’ $2720 @ $1.00/lb (8 lb/plant)

  9. Why produce high tunnel tomatoes? • Premium price for early, vine-ripe tomatoes. • Strong demand for tomatoes (second most consumed vegetable per capita). • Amenable to high tunnel culture since tomatoes can be trained to grow vertically. • Potentially less pest pressure relative to field production. • Higher marketable yield.

  10. Yield per plant of warm season vegetables within a high tunnel:

  11. K-State tomato trial – summer 2005

  12. K-State tomato trial – summer 2005

  13. Varieties: EARLY (65-70 days):Mt. Spring, Bush Celebrity, Merced, Sunbrite, Early Girl MAIN SEASON: Mt. Fresh, Florida 91, Carolina Gold, Floralina, Jetstar, Better Boy, Big Beef,

  14. Dasher II (slicing) Speedway (slicing) Indy (slicing) Burpless 26 (burpless) Tasty Jade (burpless) Socrates (Beit Alph)

  15. Simple implements for the hoophouse Tilther run by electric drill Greens harvester

  16. Not so simple implements for high tunnelsNolt’s compact raised bed mulch layer on Toro Dingo

  17. Successful GrowersPaul and Sandy Arnold, Argyle, NY • Sell at farmers market • Field houses (14’ x 100’) • Over winter and spring • Lettuce • $3100/house @ 1.75/ head • Spinach (leaf) • - $3500/house @ 6.75/lb (1/3 lb bags)

  18. Developing efficient production systems Pete’s Greens, Craftsbury, VT

  19. Haygrove (Spanish tunnels)- The next step? Multi-bay oriented north-south to avoid shading

  20. Haygrove stories • K-State (0.5 acre) – cane fruit, blueberries, melon, tomato, asparagus, rhubarb • Ed Weaver, Morgantown PA. (0.5 to 4 acres) – cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, tomatoes • John Cooper, Simcoe Ontario. Haygrove rep. (1 to >10 acres) – raspberries, tomatoes, strawberries

  21. Steve Groff, Cedar Meadow FarmHoltwood, PA. Learning curve! Alex + Betsy Hitt, Peregrine FarmGraham, NC. Management!

  22. Come and visit any time Ted Carey, 35125 W 135th St., Olathe, KS 66061913-645-0007; tcarey@ksu.edu

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