2013 high tunnel workshop
presentation descriptionsHigh Tunnel Vegetable Research Update at WV State University
Jett, Lewis Energy Ideas & Innovations for High Tunnels & Greenhouses Tim Baker High Tunnels provide an excellent way to extend the growing season, but through good planning, design, and energy conservation, you can make your high tunnel even more efficient. This presentation will explore these concepts, and also showcase some innovative ideas that growers have implemented. These examples range from passive, low-tech approaches to active energy-using technology. Ventilation and heating will be explored as well, for those growers desiring even further season extension. NRCS High Tunnel EQIP Update Paul Duffner Seasonal High Tunnels were first offered as part of the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) in 2010 and have continued to be an extremely popular offering to Midwestern vegetable growers. A review if the 2012 offering will be presented including the number of High Tunnels funded through EQIP. Highlights of the 2013 High Tunnel offering will be presented. High Tunnel Small Fruit Production Eric Hanson * See presentation below High Tunnel Tomato Research Update: Varieties Sanjun Gu This presentation provides updates on the 2012 high tunnel tomato research from Lincoln University of Missouri. Four determinate and seven indeterminate tomato varieties, two heirloom tomato grafted on five rootstocks were tested in both single-layer and double-player high tunnels. Building a Chinese Greenhouse Curtis Milsap The Millsaps have been building a Chinese Style High Tunnel, with bermed north wall, gabion cage heat retention, and moveable insulation layer. Curtis will share challenges and discoveries along the way, including construction details, what's working and what isn't, and an overview of the Chinese Tunnel concept. Picture Showcase the Chinese Way of Growing Asparagus, Strawberry & Cherry in High Tunnels Sanjun Gu Dr. Sanjun Gu visited China in late March and took lots of pictures. This presentation will share some of his findings on how Chinese asparagus, strawberries and Cherries do in high tunnels or the Chinese solar greenhouse. |
workshop presentersLewis Jett has been an Extension Specialist for commercial horticulture in West Virginia State University (WVU) since 2007. He specializes in the vegetables and small fruit crop production. He is passionate about developing practical, economical production techniques for commercial vegetable growers by organizing tours, workshops and production meetings that help growers expand their output. Lewis did research at Louisiana State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia prior to joining WVU Extension. He has also spent time in East Africa helping small farmers in Kenya grow vegetables.
Paul Duffner grew up on a corn/soybean farm in central Illinois. He was a Sales Representative with DuPont AG Products for 25 years in NE Arkansas and NW Missouri. He started with the NRCS at Macon as an Integrated Pest Management Specialist in 2002. He then went on as an Area Resource Conservationist at Jefferson City in 2003, and in 2007 became a Resource Conservationist in the NRCS State Office in Columbia, MO. One of his responsibilities is the EQIP High Tunnel offering for Missouri. Tim Baker joined University of Missouri Extension in 1992 as a Horticulture Specialist in Southeast Missouri. He worked for the University of Idaho in their potato variety development program before coming to Missouri. In 2008, he transferred to Northwest Missouri, where he continue working with the University of Missouri Extension as a Horticulture specialist. Eric Hanson is a Professor and Extension Specialist in Horticulture at Michigan State University. His primary responsibility is working with MSU Extension to provide production information to berry crop producers on fertilization, weed management, high tunnel berry production, growth regulator use, variety evaluation, and recently organic production challenges for blueberries and raspberries. Sanjun Gu joined Lincoln University as the state-wide Extension Vegetable Specialist for Missouri in 2008. He is responsible for commercial vegetable production and his research interests include: variety trials, vegetable grafting and production in high-tunnels and other solar plastic greenhouses. Curtis Milsap and Sarah Millsap, along with their eight daughters and several apprentices, operate Millsap Farms, a 20-acre diversified farm in Springfield, MO. They grow 2 to 3 acres of vegetables, with 10,000 square feet under plastic using organic practices. They sell through a year-round 85 member CSA, a farmers' market, and grocery stores. They are always looking for ways to do more with less, including energy and water conservation measures such as no-till, solar greenhouses, stored heat, etc. |