South Dakota State University Extension will feature the Beadle (County) Conservation District at its final High Tunnel Field Day of 2023. Perfect for farmers, technical service providers, gardeners, and anyone curious about high tunnels, the field day is from 5 to 7 p.m. CDT on September 21 at the Beadle Conservation District site, 1174 Lincoln Ave. S.W., Huron. It is free to attend.
Presenters include Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension consumer horticulture specialist; Rhoda Burrows, professor and SDSU Extension horticulture specialist; and Beadle Conservation District representatives Robin Viestenz and Mark Goldhammer. They will share urban farm and high tunnel production challenges and opportunities for central South Dakota.
The site is 4½ acres and is managed by the Beadle Conservation District. Its management and urban setting make it a unique place to visit, Lang said. “An urban farm setting creates new opportunities for markets and public engagement, but it also creates new challenges with zoning, security, and farm management,” Lang said. “I’m excited to host this event in Huron so people in the central part of South Dakota can gather. I’m thrilled to partner with Robin, her team, and board members.”
The field day will include a tour of the high tunnel, along with presentations on planning, zoning, and construction considerations; crop rotations and soil health management; and vegetable and perennial fruit production. Lang said the site weathered the derechos in May and June 2022 that caused significant damage across eastern South Dakota. The site managers will share their experiences recovering after the storms and what they learned about repairing high tunnels.