Extension of Local Food Production in Idaho Using High Tunnel Technology

Extension of Local Food Production in Idaho Using High Tunnel Technology

Summary

This research and extension high tunnel production project is being conducted by the Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Team at the University of Idaho. UI faculty are partnering with active high tunnel growers to complete research and educational activities in three regions of Idaho, northern, southwestern, and south-central. The project is comprised of three major components: 1) research on high tunnel design with the objective to improve structural integrity under conditions of high winds and snow loads, 2) research to identify profitable crops and crop cultivars for use in Idaho high tunnel production, and 3) education on local food production using high tunnels through field days and publications.

Component 1: Design and construction of an experimental high tunnel was completed at Onsen Gardens in the spring of 2015. Design constraints include an aerodynamic shape, a flat sidewall only on the leeward end of the structure, and more closely spaced girders in the roof. Constructed side-by-side with a standard high tunnel, observations are ongoing to evaluate the performance and sturdiness of the new design. Evaluations include visual inspections to detect storm damage and the use of vibration detectors to measure structural stability. The experimental and standard high tunnels are serving a second role as active crop test sites.

Component 2: Research to identify appropriate crops and cultivars for profitable high tunnel production is ongoing at three cooperator site: Green Tree Naturals in Sandpoint, Idaho (studies being completed in a high tunnel constructed under the WSARE grant); Onsen Gardens, Buhl, Idaho (site of the experimental high tunnel structure); and Next Generation Organics, Homedale, Idaho. This last cooperator is new to the project and replaces Sweet Valley Organics whose high tunnel operation was destroyed by storms in the fall of 2014. At Green Tree Naturals, evaluation of bean, eggplant, and cucumber cultivars are in their second season. Evaluation of high-value medicinal and homeopathic plant species has been initiated this fall at Onsen Gardens. Decisions for crop and cultivar comparisons at Next Generation Organics are being finalized in preparation for the upcoming fall planting season. Modifications are being made to the data collection process at all three locations. Initially proposed methods for crop and cultivar assessment included yield measurements, a parameter that has proved difficult to measure under routine farm operations. Instead, cooperators are accumulating crop value and monetary return data.

Component 3: Educational activities associated with the project include field days and publications. The second of three scheduled field days was held at Green Tree Naturals in Sandpoint on August 30^th. The first of two scheduled field days was held at Onsen Gardens in Buhl on June 27^th. The first of two field days at Next Generation is scheduled for later this fall. Publication activities are scheduled for the final phase of the project.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Component 1, High Tunnel Design:

Objective: Improve high tunnel design to withstand high winds and/or high snow loads. Specific structural issues to be addressed include: methods to strengthen end-walls (the most common point of wind-related failure); alternate structural materials to replace PVC hoops (prone to snow-load failure); and improvements in covering materials to improve structure life and reduce weather-related degradation.

 Year 1

Review existing structural research on high tunnels relevant to high winds and high snow loads. (Completed)

Collaborate with producers, University of Idaho College of Engineering faculty advisor and senior engineering students to develop design recommendations. (Completed)

Collaborate with senior engineering students to test materials and conduct bench-scale research on structural options. (Completed)

Collaborate with senior engineering students to design and build demonstration research high tunnels and perform initial structural evaluations. (Completed)

Year 2

Evaluate performance demonstration research on high tunnels. (In progress)

Year 3

Complete performance evaluations.

Component 2, Crop Performance Research:

Objective: To identify crops and cultivars amenable to production in high tunnels and to extend the growing season for currently grown, high-value crops through the use of high tunnel technologies.

Year 1

Review existing research on high tunnel use with targeted crops suitable for Idaho. (Completed)

Collaborate with producers to organize crop trials and establish criteria for data collection. (Largely complete with some work still in progress)

Year 2

Continuation of crop trials and data collection. (In progress)

Year 3

Complete crop trials and summarize data.

Component 3, Education:

Objective: Provide research-based information to existing and prospective local food producers to encourage adoption of economically practical high tunnel production practices.

Year 1

Provide producer/professional education through field day/tours. (Conducted 1 field day)

Year 2

Present field day/tours and distribute educational materials. (Distributed information at 3 field days)

Year 3

Present training workshops statewide based on trial results and best practices.

Develop a DVD and other educational materials for distribution to producers and agricultural professionals. (Footage shot for the video)

Present final field day/demonstration tours and distribute educational materials.

Accomplishments/Milestones

At the end of the second year, overall progress on the project is satisfactory with good agreement between accomplishments and the proposed timeline. Two significant adjustments have been made to the protocols described in the original proposal. The first is a modification of the cooperator list. Two of the original cooperators, Green Tree Naturals and Onsen Gardens have provided a high level of service for the project. The other two cooperators, for reason out of their control, have not contributed to the project and one was replaced by the addition of Next Generation Organics of Homedale, Idaho. The second modification is a shift in data collection strategies from yield-based measures to profit-based data.

Component 1, High Tunnel Design:

During the first year of the project, improved design options for high tunnel construction were developed as part of a senior project by four UI engineering students, Stephen VanPatten, Kyle MacLean, Faisal Alahmadi, and Christopher Kreps. The four students delivered complete high tunnel design specifications that will theoretically allow a tunnel to withstand the southern Idaho wind and snow loads that often prove destructive and costly for producers. Specifications were delivered to a high tunnel manufacturer where an experimental construction kit was produced.

Parts for the experimental high tunnel, along with a standard high tunnel kit, were delivered to the test site at Onsen Gardens in Buhl, Idaho in August of 2014. A work party consisting of Onsen Gardens employee, Master Gardeners, and other interested parties, fabricated the over a two week period. The tunnels were used for both farm production and crop evaluation in the fall and winter of 2014/2015. Monitoring of the experimental high tunnels for durability began immediately upon construction. Evaluation includes a combination of visual damage inspection after hazardous weather events plus readings from vibration detectors during windstorms.

 Component 2, Crop Performance Research:

Active data collection to document crop and cultivar performance is occurring at Green Tree Naturals and Onsen Gardens. Evaluations will begin this fall at Next Generation Organics. The research at Green Tree Naturals is centered on cultivar evaluations of beans, cucumbers, and eggplants. A new high tunnel constructed in the spring of 2014 using WSARE funds at Green Tree Naturals will be utilized for cultivar evaluations.

The research at Onsen Gardens is mostly crop-centered and includes species for production of both greens and medicinal products. Medicinal plants included in the current study are: immortelle (Helichrysum italicum), true patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), perennial marjoram (Origanum vulgare hortensis), clary sage (Salvia sclarea), Genovese basil (Ocimum basilicum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana), lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), and tea tree (Melaleuca altemifolia). The experimental- and standard-design high tunnels constructed at Onsen Gardens are being utilized for the crop research.

Next Generation Organics will concentrate primarily on cultivar evaluations. Choices of crops and cultivars for testing are currently being finalized.

Proposed data collection for this component of the research includes yield measurements for the crop and cultivar tests. The participating UI faculty determined this type of data to be incompatible with cooperator farming operations. We have made an adjustment to study protocols and are now working with cooperators to accumulate data on produce value and monetary returns.

Component 3, Grower Education:

Green Tree Naturals has been the site of two field days, one in 2014 and the other on August 30, 2015. See Exhibit 1 for a partial summary of the exit survey for field day participants.

A very successful field day with 30 participants was held at Onsen Gardens in Buhl. A local television station covered the event. Information on permaculture production was distributed at this event.

A first field day for the new cooperator, Next Generation Organics, is scheduled within the next month. All three cooperators are scheduled to contribute to final field days in the summer of 2016.

Near the conclusion of the project, several visual and printed presentations are planned. One product will be a video describing the construction of our durable high tunnel design. A portion of the footage for the video was shot during high tunnel fabrication at Onsen Gardens. Other products will include bulletins summarizing the crop research and other publications that provide instruction on high tunnel production.

• Standard (left) and experimental high tunnels at Onsen Gardens, Buhl
• Field day at Green Tree Naturals, Sandpoint
• Field day at Onsen Gardens, Buhl
• WSARE 2015 field day participant survey results, GreenTree Naturals, Sandpoint
• Crop trials at Onsen Gardens, Buhl

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The immediate impact of this project is increased high tunnel production capability at the cooperator farms, particularly Green Tree Naturals and Onsen Gardens. A by-product is greater visibility for these producers and local high-tunnel based food production.

Long-term project objectives are to increase knowledge and skills associated with local food production using high tunnels among a greater number of producers in Idaho. These impacts are yet to be realized. As the project progresses, education will be provided to additional producers through educational activities and training materials. Producers and agricultural professionals will attend field tours. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the participating producers, tour the field demonstrations and receive educational materials. Attendees at field days and other activities will be asked to complete the “Regional Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program Outreach Survey” to document their responses to project activities and inform the project team of areas for improvement or follow-up.

Collaborators: