For Immediate Release:
December 16, 2009 |
Contact: |
Ted Quaday
Communications Director
831-426-6606
ted@ofrf.org |
High Tunnel Research Resources and Contacts Available
Organic Farming Research Foundation Provides List and Links Following NRCS "Practice Standard" Announcement
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today it has created a new "Interim Practice Standard" for high-tunnel construction. The new standard will enable growers to include plans for high tunnel production in their applications to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), including the EQIP Organic Initiative.
For many family farmers, including many involved in organic produce and fruit crop production, the high tunnel has emerged as a means to extend the growing season, thus increasing farm cash flow. NRCS notes improved water quality is possible using high tunnels because they help plants use nutrients available in the soil, which helps keep the nutrients out of surface and ground water.
Since 2001, the Santa Cruz-based Organic Farming Research Foundation has funded four research projects examining various aspects of high tunnel production. If you are preparing a report on the NRCS announcement, we urge you to contact any one or all of the project researchers on the following list to learn more about high tunnels and their value in an organic production system.
- Project: Developing Web Resources for High Tunnels. Funded: 2008 -- $8,271. Lead researcher: Kimberly Williams, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Contact: Kimberly Williams, Professor of Greenhouse Management, Kansas State University, kwilliam@ksu.edu, 785-532-1434. More.
- Project: Off-season Organic Blackberry and Raspberry Production to Expand Markets and Sustain Farm Profitability. Funded: 2008 -- $38,209 (2 years) in partnership with Stretch Island Fruit Company. Lead Researcher: Curt Rom, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Contact: Curt Rom, crom@uark.edu, 479-575-7434.
- Project: Evaluation of Screened High Tunnels for Production of Organic Vegetables in Colorado. Funded: 2006 -- $12,428 in partnership with EPA Region 8. Lead Researcher: Frank Stonaker, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado. Contact: frank.stonaker@colostate.edu, 970-491-7068. Project final report.
- Project: Shade Cloth and Mulch to Extend the Greens Season in the Midwest. Funded: 2001-- $5,835. Lead researcher: Katherine Kelly, Full Circle Farm, Kansas City, Missouri. Contact: Katherine Kelly, katherine@kccua.org, 913-831-2444.
About the Organic Farming Research Foundation
The Organic Farming Research Foundation was founded in 1990 to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. OFRF sponsors organic farming research and education projects, disseminates the results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and educates the public and policymakers about organic farming issues. The majority of OFRF’s board members are working organic farmers.
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