April 26-29, 2009 |
Production of vine-ripened tomato fruit as TOV (tomato on vine) or beefsteak (large fruit) average 500 - 600,000 pounds per acre during each 12 month period within the 220 acres (9.6 million ft2) in Arizona. The science of CEA technologies is built upon an integrated knowledge and application of horticulture, engineering, plant physiology, plant pathology, entomology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer-based micro-electronics. Education of the next generation of producers within the food, floral and landscape plants, medicinal plants, neutraceutical crops industries, requires broad-based knowledge and experience of these interrelated subjects. The greenhouse crop production industry and its supporting industries of environmental control, structures, hydroponic systems, and crop cultural procedures have become an important advanced technology segment of the U.S. agricultural industry and a major source of career opportunities for graduates of the CEA program. |
CEAC OUTREACH CEA is the most intensive, high technology form of agriculture in the U.S. and the world. High value crops like flowers, vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs are produced in carefully controlled greenhouse environments in order to optimize horticultural practices. National Agricultural Statistics for 1995 indicated that U.S. floriculture crop production alone included 842 million ft2 of covered structure and an additional 1,183 million ft2 of open cultivation. The intensive productivity of CEA stands in contrast to other forms of crop agriculture; such as, the typical annual wholesale value (on a per acre basis) of cash grains $300-$500, field produced fruits and vegetables $3000-$5000, and ornamental nursery stock $30,000-$50,000, with that of greenhouse agriculture $300,000-$500,000. There are about 900 acres of greenhouse hydroponic tomatoes in the US of a total of approximately 12,000 acres of greenhouses. |
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Controlled Environment Agriculture Program
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