quick links
___________________________ upcoming events
Horticulture Production in High Tunnels
- Feb. 2 & 3, ISU Armstrong Farm, Lewis
- March 6, Marshalltown Community College
- Flier
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current news
Apples imprinted with messages or logos could be a specialty product for Iowa’s apple growers, according to Iowa State University horticultural research.
Brandon Carpenter, a junior majoring in horticulture, conducted the project with the supervision of Gail Nonnecke, University Professor of horticulture. Carpenter will present the results to apple growers at the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association annual conference, which is scheduled for Jan. 29 and 30.
Fruit & Vegetable Growers Conference Brochure
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USDA NRCS news
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced that Iowa is one of the 38 participating states in a new pilot project under the ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative. The initiative provides financial assistance for farmers to establish high tunnels in order to increase the availability of locally grown produce.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide financial assistance for the project through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the EQIP Organic Initiative, and the Agricultural Management Assistance program. NRCS will fund one high tunnel per farm. High tunnels in the study can cover as much as 5 percent of 1 acre (up to 2,178 sq. ft.) and the rate is $1.50/sq ft for established producers and $2.25/sq ft for new/beginning farmers. Once your application is approved you have 1 year to purchase and put it up.
To sign up or learn more about EQIP assistance for high tunnel projects, contact your local NRCS office. Not all county NRCS offices are participating. The first deadline for applications this year is January 29, 2010.
Iowa NRCS offices.
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