IOWA HIGH TUNNEL SHORT COURSE
Date: Wednesday, 9th November, 2022; 8:30am-3:30pm
Venue: Garden Room, Reiman Gardens, 1407 S University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011
Welcome to 2022 Iowa High Tunnel Short Course. This short course is designed to highlight production and management of several high tunnel crops along with information on economics and marketing aspects of high tunnel crop production. The course will also provide an update on the status of high tunnel research across the Midwest. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Mark Hutton, University of Maine. Mark is the Vegetable Extension Specialist at the Highmoor Farm, University of Maine Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station located in Monmouth Maine. He conducts applied research in vegetable production and season extension in conventional and organic systems. Prior to joining UMaine Extension, he worked as a commercial vegetable breeder. He is from Hershey, Pennsylvania and earned a B.S. in Horticulture and M.S. in Entomology both from The Pennsylvania State University. His Ph.D. is in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the University of New Hampshire.
The short course will also host Monika Owczarski from Sweet Tooth Farm, Des Moines. This urban farm grows a variety of vegetables on a network of lots right in the heart of the city to tackle the issue of access to fresh fruits and vegetables and food insecurity. Sweet Tooth Farm is working collaboratively with Radiate DSM, another urban farm, to create the Rooted Farm Collective. There will be a session focusing on Cut Flowers in Tunnels. Dan Fillius from ISU Extension and Outreach will discuss high tunnel maintenance and Ajay Nair, Department of Horticulture, will cover potential cover crops that can be used in high tunnel systems. Core objectives of this short course are to:
- Highlight the importance of crop, environment, and soil management for vegetable production in high tunnels
- Provide a platform to share resources, knowledge, and expertise in the area of high tunnel vegetable production
- Connect growers, agricultural educators, extension staff, and industry personnel working in high tunnels and in the area of local foods.
Registration is free but required. Please provide information below to register. Registration deadline is 4 November, 2022.
Tentative schedule:
|
8:30 am |
Registration and coffee/refreshments |
|
9:00-10:00 am |
Keynote - High Tunnels in the Northeast Where Are We and Where Did We Start - Mark Hutton, University of Maine |
|
10:00-10:45 am |
Low-cost and DIY Tunnels for Basic Season Extension - Monika Owczarski, Sweet Tooth Farm |
|
10:45-11:30 am |
Tour of the Reiman Gardens – Ed Lyon |
|
11:30-12:30 pm |
Lunch and networking |
|
12:30-1:15 pm |
Prepare for high winds, from construction to daily/weekly maintenance to last minute preparations - Dan Fillius |
|
1:15-2:00 pm |
Cut Flowers in High Tunnels |
|
2:00-2:45 pm |
Cover Crops For High Tunnels – Ajay Nair, ISU |
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2:45-3:30 pm |
Compost Utilization and Fertility in High Tunnels - Mark Hutton, University of Maine |
|
3:30pm |
Final comments and adjourn |