US (OR): USDA supports growers with high tunnels
Assistance is now available through the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative, offered through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP).
“By increasing access to local foods, we can provide more opportunities for urban and rural communities to enjoy healthy fruits and vegetables produced in a sustainable way,” said NRCS Oregon State Conservationist Ron Alvarado. “We want to help family farms, community gardens, churches, schools and other groups expand their efforts to feed Oregon’s communities.”
This year NRCS is doubling its investment in its Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative in Oregon by making $400,000 available to eligible producers.
NRCS accepts applications continuously for seasonal high tunnels, with application deadlines throughout the year. The next application deadline is Feb. 17.
Seasonal high tunnels are unheated, plastic-covered structures that provide an intermediate level of environmental protection and control compared to open field conditions and heated green houses. They’re easy to build and maintain; and they provide an energy-efficient way to extend the growing season, reduce or avoid the use of pesticides, and reduce run-off and leaching of nitrogen or other fertilizers.
Portland farmer Stacey Givens has ramped up crop production on her one-acre urban farm with a seasonal high tunnel. Photo Caption: Portland farmer Stacey Givens has ramped up crop production on her one-acre urban farm with a seasonal high tunnel.
For Portland farmers like Stacey Givens, working with NRCS to get a high tunnel is a win-win. Givens owns and operates The Side Yard Farm and Kitchen in North Portland, which grows specialty herbs and produce for local chefs and restaurants. She worked with NRCS to install a 20-foot by 45-foot high tunnel on her one-acre urban farm.
“We needed something to grow tomatoes in so we could extend our growing season and get more production,” Givens said. “I’m very happy with the size of the high tunnel and what we qualified for. You don’t normally see a large high tunnel like this in an urban setting.”
NRCS helped Hillsboro farmers Ganesh Balamurugan and Lakshmi Tata install a high tunnel on their half-acre organic farm in Hillsboro. The couple grows a wide variety of vegetables used in traditional Indian cooking, which are sold to local families through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) business and farmers markets.
“The high tunnel allows us to focus our efforts in a small space,” Lakshmi said. “It’s great for smaller farms because it allows us to grow more heat-loving plants and extend the growing season. It’s amazing.”
“We wouldn’t have got a quality high tunnel this big or this early without support from NRCS,” Ganesh said. “It’s very hard to justify an investment like this without the assistance.”
Hillsboro farmers Ganesh Balamurugan and Lakshmi Tata installed a seasonal high tunnel on their half-acre organic farm to increase crop production for their CSA.
Photo Caption: Hillsboro farmers Ganesh Balamurugan and Lakshmi Tata installed a seasonal high tunnel on their half-acre organic farm to increase crop production for their CSA.
Through the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative, participating producers pay the costs upfront for professional installation of a manufactured high tunnel kit then NRCS issues a payment to help off-set the cost. The payment cap for a seasonal high tunnel is $6,500, though some producers may qualify for a higher amount.
For more information:
www.or.nrcs.usda.gov