Boosting Soil Health and Farm Revenue: Growing High Tunnel Tomatoes in Clover in Black Dirt

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notes that flooding in the Northeast is exacerbated by more frequent rainstorms as a result of changing environmental conditions. In July 2023, severe storms brought up to eight inches of rain in some areas, causing catastrophic flooding in the Northeast. (​​July 2023: Record High Temperatures and Devastating Floods ) The National Climate Assessment shows increasingly intense rain in the Northeast (Extreme Precipitation in the Northeast). 

In addition to increased precipitation and flooding in the region, Rise & Root Farm is increasingly challenged by periods of drought, such as we are currently experiencing. (NYC declares a drought watch, asks residents to conserve water)  (Keeping muck soils sustainable) 

Amidst the trend of increasingly extreme weather events that Northeast farmers are facing, RRF is building strategies that mitigate disruption while increasing crop yield and economic viability. The goal is to share this research widely within the farming community in NY’s Black Dirt Region, encompassing approximately 26,000 acres of fertile muck soil, and home to over 630 farms.  Tomatoes are a primary crop in the region. (Orange County Produce.) 

RRF’s goal is to research the impact of establishing a clover / oat cover crop in the tunnels which the tomatoes are then transplanted into. Our project is to test our hypothesis that growing tomatoes in a living clover mulch is a significant way to build healthy soils, control soil moisture, and reap increased yield and tunnel revenue. 

Rise & Root Farm is deeply committed to equitable food access. Extreme weather events cause serious disruptions in the food supply, often impacting underserved communities the hardest, as seen during the pandemic. Establishing methods for stable crop production during irregular and unpredictable weather is a priority for RRF, specifically ensuring that food insecure communities have access to fresh produce amidst extreme weather events.

The Black Dirt region of NY is known for its nutrient rich soils, but is also low-lying and prone to flooding. Through this study, we aim to increase water drainage and root penetration, while mitigating soil erosion and pest pressure.  Our project matters not only for RRF’s goal to maximize high tunnel plant health and value, but also to the multiple farmers in our region growing tomatoes in high tunnels in Black Dirt. 

During increased precipitation high tunnels flood from the ground up. When the muck soils hold the water, soil compacts, algae grows, there is increased weed pressure and ultimately lower yields, affecting the farm’s bottom line negatively. In the decade that RRF has been farming, we have built multiple drainage systems to account for the saturated soils, however, these systems alone are not able to fully handle the increased flooding from below, which is a particular problem in the tunnels where high yield and high value crops (tomatoes and greens) are grown. 

Problems with saturated soils we are addressing:

• Reduced water drainage, leading to root rot and inadequate nutrient uptake;
• Decreased root penetration, limiting the depths roots can reach for nutrients;
• Nutrient leaching: when water cannot penetrate the soil, it often runs off the top, taking nutrients with it
• Erosion: water runoff and flooding contribute to erosion. 

Growing tomatoes in high tunnels is an important part of production in the Northeast, as season extension is vital for crop yield and economic viability. RRF collaborates with farmers throughout the region who express frustration with tomato production in high tunnels in muck soil, as drainage systems are failing during increased regional precipitation and flooding. 

RRF’s project will be useful not only for farmers growing in muck soils, but also for high tunnel producers who grow in tunnels year round and have difficulty incorporating a cover crop. Growing tomatoes in the living clover provides the benefits of a cover crop without sacrificing a growing season. 

RRF’s approach is to build healthy soils and mitigate flooding in high tunnels, improving tomato yield in black dirt soils, by transplanting tomatoes in a living clover cover crop. Our approach is to increase farm resilience by building soils and replacing plastic; increase economic viability by generating greater value from our tunnel production; address inequities in our food system by sharing our process and knowledge within our robust farmer networks; and enjoy a high quality of life by doing what we love, which is growing food! 

Reduction of environmental and/or health risks in agriculture: RRF’s project will reduce environmental risks such as erosion and nutrient runoff by utilizing cover cropping, which has been well established to decrease soil erosion and soil compaction (NRCS -Cover Crop, Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations - SARE) 

Improved productivity, reduction of costs and/or increase of net farm income: By planting tomatoes in cover crops in high tunnels, RRF anticipates higher crop productivity, reduction of labor (from weeding, ditch digging, and pest maintenance) resulting in increased net farm income;

Conservation of soil, improvement of water quality, and protection of natural resources: Planting tomatoes in new and established clover will prevent erosion from flooding and runoff, ultimately conserving soil and nutrients needed for crop yields; 

Enhancement of employment in farm communities: RRF’s project will demonstrate improved farm efficiency and reduce barriers muck soil farmers face in tunnel production, leading to greater incentive for production in Orange County, which has tremendous access to NYC and Upstate markets. 

Improvement of quality of life for farmers, their families, employees, and the farming community: The ability to grow tomatoes from spring to fall, and then greens over the winter, not only improves the quality of life for the farmers at RRF, but also for their families and food access partners. Our project can help all the farmers growing at CAC, and in muck soils, to mitigate flooding, increase productivity and economic benefits. More stable food production benefits food access communities with whom the farm partners who count on RRF for nutritious and local food throughout the year.