High tunnels at High Latitudes: Sustainable Crop Production for Alaska

Project Overview

EW15-022
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2015: $32,315.00
Projected End Date: 07/31/2018
Grant Recipient: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Region: Western
State: Alaska
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Casey Matney
Email
University of Alaska Fairbanks

Annual Reports

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Crop Production: high tunnels or hoop houses, season extension
  • Education and Training: extension

    Abstract:

    The High Tunnels at High Latitudes project trained 22 Alaska agriculture professionals on current and relevant high tunnel crop production methodologies and considerations. In addition to Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, staff from other in-state agriculture organizations attended the training. Sustainable practices in the training included: nutrient management, integrated pest management, crop selection, irrigation, and construction/maintenance considerations. Along with the training, Kenai high tunnel operations and farms were exhibited through a day of farm tours. Agriculture professionals identified education and research priorities related to high tunnel production in high latitudes. Following the training, CES agents utilized the knowledge gained to offer high tunnel trainings to producers across the state. Agents offered a total of 19 educational events based on the information provided at the training to a total of 189 participants. Additionally, CES agents in Alaska produced 16 quality high tunnel educational videos with over 115 minutes of video content and 4,320 views as of September 26, 2018. 

    Project objectives:

    Objective 1 - Provided a professional development workshop to train Cooperative Extension Service agents and other agriculture professionals on all relevant aspects of high tunnel production at high latitudes to enable provision of valuable technical assistance to producers. 

    Objective 2 - Prepared a series of Cooperative Extension Service videos on high tunnel production at high latitudes to be used by producers across Alaska. Videos were scripted and prepared by the agents that received earlier training. 

    Objective 3 - Cooperative Extension Service agents disseminated information gained through the initial training by providing training/workshop events to current and prospective producers across Alaska. The workshops were aimed at increasing participant knowledge of high tunnel production methods leading to adoption of practices that reduce costs and improve natural resource management. 

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.