Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Organic high tunnel (HT) production is expanding rapidly due to season extension benefits, but intense cultivation strategies may pose challenges for sustainability that could offset economic gains. Previous OREI-supported research showed challenges to be mitigated through soil-enhancing practice of cover cropping, but on-farm evaluation of HT rotational strategies is sorely lacking. Our long-term goal, based on extensive grower feedback, is to increase cover crop adoption to improve HT resilience. We will accomplish this by conducting extensive on-farm and replicated experimentation across northern-climate research sites (Upper Midwest and New England), by training students and farmers, and by deepening relationships with farmers excited about using season extension. Our supporting objectives include to 1) Improve our understanding of agronomic trade-offs associated with legume cover crop integration across working organic farms; 2) Create educational case studies to support decision making about cover crops, with an emphasis on economic outcomes; and 3) Meet farmer demand for education and networking opportunities for HT producers in cold regions. Outcomes include research data from on-farm trials and on the impacts of long-term manure and cover crop inputs on soils; four farm case studies emphasizing cover crop use, costs, and benefits; a Beginning Organic High Tunnel Vegetable Production course for rural Minnesota growers; and conference workshops and field days. If successful, our project will have far-reaching implications for how farmers manage their HTs for optimizing system resilience and long-term sustainability.
Animal Health Component
90%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
90%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
Organic high tunnel (HT) production has been expanding rapidly, but intense cultivation strategies may pose challenges for sustainability that could offset economic gains that HT production offers. Previous OREI-supported research showed that challenges can be mitigated through soil-enhancing practice of cover cropping, but on-farm evaluation of HT rotational strategies is sorely lacking. Our long term goal, based on extensive grower feedback, is to increase cover crop adoption to improve HT resilience. We will accomplish this by conducting extensive on-farm and replicated experimentation across northern-climate research sites (Upper Midwest and New England), by training students and farmers, and by deepening relationships with farmers excited about using season extension. Our supporting objectives include to 1) Improve our understanding of agronomic trade-offs associated with legume cover crop integration across working organic farms; 2) Create educational case studies to support decision making about cover crops, with an emphasis on economic outcomes; and 3) Meet farmer demand for education and networking opportunities for HT producers in cold regions.Outcomes include research data from on-farm trials; four farm case studies emphasizing cover crop use, costs, and benefits; a Beginning Organic High Tunnel Vegetable Production course for rural Minnesota growers; and conference workshops and field days. If successful, our project will have far-reaching implications for how farmers manage their HTs for optimizing ecosystem services, system resilience, and long-term sustainability.
Project Methods
General methods are outlined under each objective. Additional information may be found under 'Products- Activities'section of this project initiation.Objective 1: Improve our understanding of agronomic trade-offs associated with legume cover crop integration across working organic farms. This overarching objective aims to increase cover crop adoption rates in two northern U.S. regions by first confirming best-bet species and preference with farmers, then distributing cover crop seed to organic farmers in two participation tiers. We will collect a wide range of data on cover crop performance and soil attributes during and following cover crop production from the on-farm trials. A replicated research station trial ("mother trial") will also accompany on-farm trials.Objective 2: Create educational case studies to help farmers and students make decisions about cover crop integration in tunnels with an emphasis on economic outcomes.Co-PD DiGiacomo will collect data and prepare four illustrative case studies to inform educational instruction and improve grower understanding of cover crop production costs and benefits. The case studies will compare and contrastcover crop options. Growerswill be identified for the case studies from the participants from objective one toillustrate a diversity of cover crop strategies and planting windows. Case study content will come from quantitative research results (biomass, soils), newly prepared cover crop production budgets based on grower data, and growers' qualitative responses to interview questions. The case studies will inform future research and Extension outreach as well as provide curriculum content for cover crop instruction in a variety of educational settings (FFA, technical and community colleges, 4-year Universities).Objective 3: Meet farmer demand for education and networking opportunities for high tunnel producers through development of an annual course emphasizing organic HT management.A multi-format education and networking program will be developed, re-activating previous networks of HT growers while incorporating a new focus on community-building and technical assistance for emerging farmers. Formats will include the following: 1)ABeginning Organic High Tunnel Vegetable Production course developedand deliveredto 20 producers annually for three years through a new collaboration betweenthe University of Minnesota and Central Lakes College (CLC), a comprehensive community and technical college serving about 5,500 students per year in rural Minnesota. 2)In project year three, we will develop a workshop to highlight participant learning gained through the CLC course and transfer important skills to audience participants.