| |
USDA TO LAUNCH HIGH TUNNEL PILOT STUDY TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF LOCALLY
GROWN FOODS
South Carolina Included in 3-Year Project To Verify
Effectiveness Of High Tunnels In Natural Resource Conservation
Application deadline in
South Carolina is March 12, 2010
Columbia,
SC--Dec. 21, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen
Merrigan announced a new pilot project under the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your
Food' initiative for farmers to establish high tunnels - also known as hoop
houses - to increase the availability of locally grown produce in a
conservation-friendly way. Merrigan and other Obama administration officials
highlighted opportunities available for producers in a video posted on USDA's
YouTube channel at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07vtMJgp0no, which shows high tunnels
recently installed in the White House garden.
"There is great potential for high tunnels to expand the
availability of healthy, locally-grown crops - a win for producers and
consumers," said Merrigan. "This pilot project is going to give us real-world
information that farmers all over the country can use to decide if they want to
add high tunnels to their operations. We know that these fixtures can help
producers extend their growing season and hopefully add to their bottom line."
The 3-year, 38-state study will verify if high tunnels are
effective in reducing pesticide use, keeping vital nutrients in the soil,
extending the growing season, increasing yields, and providing other benefits to
growers.
Made of ribs of plastic or metal pipe covered with a layer of plastic sheeting,
high tunnels are easy to build, maintain and move. High tunnels are used
year-round in parts of the country, providing steady incomes to farmers - a
significant advantage to owners of small farms, limited-resource farmers and
organic producers.
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. To sign up or
learn more about EQIP assistance for high tunnel projects, contact a local NRCS
office, or visit www.sc.nrcs.usda.gov.
If you encounter any problems with the files provided on this page, please
contact Sabrenna Bryant at 803-765-5419.
The following documents require
Adobe Acrobat.
South Carolina High Tunnel Factsheet
(PDF; 297 KB)
NEW!
< Back to SC NRCS Home ...
| |
|