Using High Tunnels for Season Extension: Introduction & Special Topics

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Registration Deadline: Wednesday, March 22, 2017

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• Credit Cards: CEFS can now accept credit cards for your registration fees. Visit our credit card portal to pay online by following this link: https://commerce.cashnet.com/NCSUCEFS?ITEMCODE=CALS2-UHTSE2.

Registration Information: Space is limited. In order to secure your space on the tour, your registration fee is required within 7 days of registering.

To download a printable flyer for this workshop, please click HERE. 

As the consumer interest in the local food movement rapidly expands, medium and large scale buyers are seeking to increase sales of local products. One strategy growers can explore to meet this need is season extension through the use of high and low tunnels.

High tunnels are low-tech, low-cost tools that allow growers to extend the growing season of vegetables and small fruit crops, potentially increasing market opportunities and farm profits. Two separate sessions will be offered; we will be together for lunch and the farm tour.

• A beginner’s session in high tunnel production and basic regional marketing strategies. Topics include type and structure of high tunnels, site selection and orientation, key construction points, crop selections and key management strategies of crops and high tunnels.
• An advanced session for growers already producing in high tunnels and increasing their regional wholesale marketing strategies. Topics include microclimate characteristics, planting dates for vegetable crops, trellising and pruning, cover crops, insect pest screening, and low/high tunnel strawberries.

The latest research results from A&T will be shared. Presenters will also discuss various high tunnel equipment vendors, noting the features important to include for extended season growing in the Piedmont region. NRCS high tunnel cost share program details will be available. The day will conclude a high tunnel farm tour at NC A&T research farm.

Speakers Include:

• John Beck, Extension Associate, Horticulture Unit Coordinator
• Sanjun Gu, Horticulture Extension Specialist
• John Ivey, Guilford County, Extension Agent, Agriculture – Crop Science
• MaryJac Brennan, Forsyth County Extension Agent, Small Farms & Local Foods Coordinator
• Laura Lauffer, Project Coordinator, Local Farms and Food, N.C. A&T State University, Cooperative Extension Program, North Carolina Growing Together, CEFS