In response to high demand for year-round local produce, researchers with the University of New Hampshire report they have successfully grown bulbing onions planted in fall for a spring harvest with the aid of inexpensive low tunnels. The new research, which was funded by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) and by Northeast SARE (Sustainable…
High tunnel (hoop house) production of vegetables has become very common in Kansas as they protect the crop from wind and storm damage in addition to providing season extension. We conducted a variety trial of determinate hybrid tomatoes grown in a high tunnel to determine which cultivar is best suited for hoop house cultivation in…
High tunnel (hoop house) production of vegetables has become quite common in Kansas as they protect the crop from wind and storm damage in addition to providing season extension. We conducted a variety trial of bell peppers grown in a high tunnel to determine which cultivar is best suited for hoop house cultivation in the…
Your greenhouse is an investment that should be protected, safeguarded, and – as we’ll discuss here – storm-proofed. Storm damage not only has the potential to reduce your greenhouse to ruins, but will result in a devastating loss of crops. Many growers survive harvest to harvest, so the loss of an entire season of crops…
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2015 –Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2014 Census of Horticultural Specialties report, which shows that horticulture operations sold a total of $13.8 billion in floriculture, nursery and specialty crops in 2014, up 18 percent since 2009. The number of horticulture operations in the United…
WASHINGTON, Sep 17, 2015 –Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the results of the 2014 Organic Survey, which show that 14,093 certified and exempt organic farms in the United States sold a total of $5.5 billion in organic products in 2014, up 72 percent since 2008. The top 10…
Introduction Tomatoes are the most widely grown vegetable crop in high tunnels throughout Kentucky. This is primarily due to the high value of the crop, particularly since the high tunnels allow for entry into the market several weeks earlier than field planted crops. As a result, many producers do not rotate and continue to grow…
Introduction High tunnels offer a vertical production environment that is often not fully utilized. Hanging baskets of petunias were selected by the PI and cooperating farmer as a trial crop for economic evaluation due to their ability to ‘harvest’ sunlight while, potentially not interfering with the production of other tunnel crops grown below. The production…
“Raspberries are one of the more challenging crops I deal with,” says Maine’s vegetable and small fruit specialist David Handley. “I have more people get started in and get out of raspberries than any other crop I deal with.” People often see raspberries priced around $5 per half pint and plant the fruit. “But when…
Introduction Insect pests are one of the major problems in organic production systems. Crop damage from insect pests can occur via direct feeding or egg-laying, contamination with feces, or disease transmission; loss in yield or marketability ofvegetables in the absence of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can be nearly 100 percent. Organic IPM practice consists of…