This document discusses Scenic Valley Farms' use of high tunnels for organic crop production. Scenic Valley Farms designs and manages high tunnels and climate control systems across multiple locations. High tunnels allow year-round production by protecting crops from weather extremes. Studies have shown high tunnel crops can yield 2-4 times more than outdoor crops due to the protected environment. Scenic Valley Farms has achieved tomato yields of nearly 20 pounds per plant in their high tunnels, meeting their goal of 25 pounds per plant. The high tunnels create economic, environmental, and food security benefits compared to traditional field production.

1. High Tunnel Crop Management, Automation
& Marketing

2. Overview
• Scenic Valley Farm
• Scenic Valley Green Energy
• High Tunnel Overview
• High Tunnel Management
• Marketing
• SHARE-d Farm

3. Scenic Valley Farms
• Designs and manages high tunnels, climate
control systems, and solar thermal heating
technology
• Five high tunnels in Minnesota and
Wisconsin
• Produces organically certified tomatoes,
peppers, blackberries, raspberries, herbs,
and leafy green produce
• Decades of agriculture and engineering
experience

4. Scenic Valley Green
Energy
• Solid, long-term investment
• Generate income from electricity
• Promote sustainability by reducing C02
emissions
• Gain energy independence and protection
from volatile electricity prices
• Offset tax liabilities
Affordable,
Clean Energy from
Small Wind Turbines
for Homes, Farms,
Businesses, Public
Facilities and
Investors

5. High Tunnel Agriculture
• Hybrid of open field and
greenhouse production
• Non-permanent structures
• Less expensive than
greenhouses
• Crops planted in ground to
ensure superior taste
• Create 12 month growing
season
• Constructed with steel
hoops, covered with heat
retaining, light
dispersing, anti-drip plastic
• Plastic efficiently rolled up
and down to manage air flow
• Drip irrigation optimizes
water and natural fertilizer
inputs.
• Versatile in size and shape
• Incentives available at Federal
and State levels

6. Economic Benefits of High Tunnels
• Boost fruit and vegetable yields up to 400%
compared to field grown produce
• Steady, reliable supply of organic produce
• Purchase produce at wholesale distributor rates
• Harvest and deliver fruits and vegetables at
optimum ripeness and flavor
• Create a year round growing environment
• Meet consumer demand on either end of the
production curve when competition is lower and
prices are higher
• Harvest ≈ 95 percent grade A fruit and vegetables
• Meet the increasing demand for locally grown
produce
• Grow healthier, safer produce with less risk of
contamination
• Cost effectively expand the scale of organic farming
• Shorten shipping distances = lower freight costs
• Create new regional produce

7. Environmental Benefits of High Tunnels
• Shorter distance to market cuts fuel
usage
• Solar power reduces carbon
emissions
• Drip irrigation conserves water
• Natural compost replenishes the soil
• Organic mulching reduces erosion
• Synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
eliminated
• Crops protected from climate and
weather extremes
• Disease, pest, and insect control
inputs reduced
• Respond to water shortages in other
regions of the country

8. Increase Produce Yields
SWROC 2009 Bell Pepper Harvest: High Tunnel vs. Outdoor
6
Average marketable yield (lbs/plant)
5
4
• The University of Minnesota
3
High Tunnel
2
Southwest Research and Outdoor
1
Outreach Center (SWROC) 0
conducted field study to Ace (green) Ace (red)
compare organic high tunnel Bell Pepper
vegetables to outdoor grown
SWROC 2009 Tomato Harvest: High Tunnel vs. Outdoor
varieties
20
• SWROC high tunnels in study
Average marketable yield (lbs/plant)
18
16
did not utilize auxiliary heat. 14
12
10
8 High Tunnel
6
Outdoor
4
2
0
Paragon Valley Girl Cobra Pink Beauty
Tomato Determinate Tomate Indeterminate

9. Increase Produce Yields
SVF Weekly Determinate Tomato Harvest (2011)
• Yields
4 typically 200-
300% higher
3.5
in high
3 tunnels
Average marketable lbs per plant
SVF High Tunnels
• Our organic
2.5
determinate
2 tomato
Total = 19.5 lbs per yields in
1.5 plant
2011 = 20 lbs
1
per plant
• Established
0.5 goal of 25
0
lbs/plant in
7/15/2011 8/15/2011 9/15/2011 10/15/2011 2012
SVF high tunnels equaled yields at University of
Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach
Center (SWROC)

10. Increasing Produce Yields
SVF Weekly Determinate Tomato Harvest (2011)
4
3.5
Average marketable lbs per plant
3
Conventional HT • Solar
Solar Thermal HT
2.5 Thermal
2 high tunnel
warms soil
1.5
and air →
1 End of Year Total higher
0.5 Conventional = 9 lbs yields (see
per plant chart at left)
0
Solar Thermal = 18
lbs per plant
SVF solar thermal outperformed conventional high tunnel

11. Increase Yields
• High tunnel grown
raspberries at the
University of
Minnesota, Rapids High
Tunnel Research Centers
• High tunnels used drip
irrigation and auxiliary
propane heat to protect
against frost damage
Yields of two raspberry varieties in field and high
tunnels (University of Minnesota, Morris)

12. Extending the Season
Blackberry photos taken November
14th at Scenic Valley Farms in
Rosemount, MN

13. Create a Year Round Season
Spinach Harvested on January 15th
Ripe Gold Medal Heirlooms on November 4th
Winter Spinach under Row Covers

14. Extend the Growing Season
High tunnel versus outdoor grown early season extension (University of Minnesota SWROC)

15. Extend the Growing Season
USDA Terminal Market Price (Chicago)
Blackberries
• Meet consumer 40
Wholesale Price ($)
demand for local 35
12 5.6 oz cups
30
25
fruits and 20
15
vegetables on either 10
5
Low Price
High Price
end of the 0
1/6/2007
2/6/2007
3/6/2007
4/6/2007
5/6/2007
6/6/2007
7/6/2007
8/6/2007
9/6/2007
10/6/2007
11/6/2007
12/6/2007
production curve
when competition is
lower and prices are
higher. USDA Terminal Market Price (Chicago)
Vine Ripe Tomatoes
• USDA terminal 35
market prices for 30
25
produce generally Wholesale 20
Market Price ($)
higher in the early 15 lb flats 15
Low Price
10
and late season 5 High Price
months. 0
3/24/2007
4/24/2007
5/24/2007
6/24/2007
7/24/2007
8/24/2007
9/24/2007
10/24/2007
11/24/2007
12/24/2007

16. Improves Produce Quality Tomatoes in SVF high tunnel
High Tunnel Grown Outdoor Grown
Tomatoes planted at same time in spring
Heirloom bell peppers in SVF high tunnel Summer blackberries in SVF high tunnel

17. Create Diversity of Regional Produce
• High tunnels produce crops not able to grow
unprotected in a region, diversifying the farming
system and creating new value added industries.
• SVF testing the viability of growing blackberries
in a zone 4 hardiness zone
• Dr. Vince Fritz, a University of Minnesota
horticultural research scientist is conducting
field studies on the medicinal properties of
ginger grown in high tunnels.
• Penn State University grows exotic heirloom
fruits and vegetables in research high tunnels
and then markets them on-campus.

18. Suitable Crops for High Tunnels
• Cucumbers • Strawberries
• Berries • Watermelons
• Beans • Tomatoes
• Onions • Herbs
• Flowers • Cherries
• Peppers • And Many
• Blackberries More

19. Suitable Crops for Hardiness Zones 2-4
• Any crop that can normally be grown in the zone
• Most crops suitable for zone 4, 5, 6, and some 7
• If supplemental heat provided, zone 6 and beyond

20. Ideal for Organic Agriculture
– Higher yields offset more labor intensive practices
– Plastic barrier control disease and pest outbreaks
– Weeds easier to manage
– Natural compost applied early in year
– Liquid organic fertilizer fed through drip irrigation
– Increases percentage of high quality fruit and produce
– Biological controls thrive in controlled environment

21. High Tunnel Research Sites in
Minnesota
Experiment Stations
Grower Cooperators

22. Importance of High Tunnel Selection
Research a tunnel that fits production size, handles snow
load, accommodates blackberry row height, and fits budget.
• Gothic peak on 12’ X 30’ X 96’ tunnel handles snow load well
• 4-6’ straight sides accommodate outside bramble rows
• 6’ straight sides to maintain adequate ventilation
• Use 6 mil poly covering AC/IR
• Recommend using double layer poly with air space inflated by fan

23. Types of High Tunnel
Management
• Manual
• Semi – Automated
• Fully Automated

24. Manual Management
• Traditional Definition of High Tunnel Management
– No electrical service
– No active ventilation
– No heating system.
– Ventilated by manually rolling the sides up or down as needed using a roll
bar.
– Covered with a single layer of 6-mil greenhouse plastic structure year
around and normally lasts four years
– Heavy row covers provide frost protection.
– No sensor controlled irrigation system
• Drawbacks
– Not monitoring high tunnels on a daily basis can result in disaster
– Excessive heat builds up in hours, sometimes minutes
– Common for air temps to reach 120 F in March
– Over or under watering can go undetected

25. Semi-Automated
Management
• Multiple controllers
• Multiple sensors
• Saves labor
• Reduces risk
• Requires more installation time
• No real time data feedback
• Grower not notified of device failure while off site

26. Ventilation and Circulation
• Exhaust fans mounted
into end walls
• Motorized winder on
side walls
• Both devices
thermostatically
controlled
• Hayloft style doors in
end walls

27. Irrigation System
• Installed drip irrigation
• Emitters within 8” on either side of
bramble
• Each emitter releases ½ gallon per
hour.
• Semi automated system
• Sensor and controller provide 6
zones with 6 irrigation times per
zone
• Sensor provides moisture content
(%), soil temperature, and EC
• Irrigation cycle suspended above
pre-set soil moisture content
• Irrigated in 1.5 hour cycles at 7 am
and 6 pm
• Irrigation increased to three 1.5
hour cycles during fruiting

28. Fertigation System
• Installed EZ Flow (1 gallon) inline fertigation
system
• Applied organic liquid fertilizer containing fish
• Fish Aqua – OMRI approved
• Discovered fish emulsion based fertilizer clogs
emitters
• Drip tape not clogged by emulsion but emitters too
close = wasted water and fertilizer
• Install drip tape future high tunnels
• Plan to fertigate one times per week
• Perform soil analysis beginning and end of
season, leaf analysis during growing season

29. Automated Management
• Combines controllers for
circulation, ventilation, irrigation, fertigation, a
nd heating
• Programmable Logic Controller wireless to a
PC
• PC wireless to internet

30. Environmental Management System (EMS)
• Automated climate control
system for high tunnels
• User monitors and controls the
climate from touch screen
PLC, laptop, or Smart phone
• Ventilation, irrigation, and
heating are monitored and
controlled on-site or remotely
• SVF awarded $100,000 USDA Small
Business Innovation Research
Grant
• Testing at SVF high tunnels in both
Minnesota and Wisconsin
• Expected operational date: March
2011
• Potential SBIR Phase II
Commercialization Grant in 2013

31. Environmental Management System (EMS)
Production Processes Controlled
heating
cooling
ventilation
circulation
irrigation
fertigation
security
surveillance
High Tunnel Sensors
air temperature motion
soil temperature video
humidity water flow
soil pH
soil water content
TDS/EC
light intensity

32. Early Development Screenshots

33. Solar Thermal Heating
• Qualifies for 30
percent Federal
Investment Tax Credit
• Reduces active
income tax liability
• Solar panels collect heated air
• Fans circulate heated air below
ground
• Warms soil and air temperatures
• Extends growing season to allow
for additional crops and harvests
• Reduces propane fuel usage and
greenhouse gas emissions

34. High Tunnel Temperature Research
• Three 30’x96’ high tunnels in Readsown, WI
• HT1 - conventional with single layer
• HT2 - solar thermal (ST) with double layer
• HT3 - conventional with double layer
• Use temp data logger to record temps every
30 minutes, 24/7
• Research Nov 2011 to present
• Temp data logger in soil, inside
tunnel, outside
• Periodic reading of logger data
• Soil data logger in HT2 failed in May 2011

38. Data Logger Conclusions
• Double layer raises night time air temp ≈ 7F
• Solar thermal with double layer raises night time air
temperature ≈ 20 degrees F
• Solar thermal soil temp reaches 55F by March 15th. Even
sooner with double layer
• Tomato Planting times
• Outside May 23
• Conventional HT April 10 - some heat
• Solar Thermal HT March 15 – some heat
• Last day to harvest Tomato
• Outside Sept 23
• Conventional HT Oct 23 – some heat
• Solar Thermal HT Nov 24 – some heat

39. Economics
Manually Semi- Automated
Auto
High tunnel (30’x96’) , not including $9600 $9200 $9200
installation, double layer, incl shipping
Irrigation and controller, trellis, $1100 $1400 $1100
fertigation tank
•with
Plants $400 $400 solar
thermal
End walls, side boards, door $800 $800 $800
**See
hardware, screws cash flow
hand out
Motorized rollup sides w/thermostat $900 $300
Heater w/thermostat $350 $250
Ventilation & Circulation w/thermostat $650 $550
Plastic mulch $300 $300 $300
EMS $5000
Total Fixed Expenses $12200 $14000 $17500
Income (tomatoes, peppers, spinach) $20000 est $36380** $45811* **

40. Estimated Return on Investment

41. Market Drivers
The farm responds to….
• The increasing consumer demand for local and organic fruit and
vegetables
• The building movement to invest locally in sustainable agriculture and
clean energy
• Rising oil prices (petroleum is used in agriculture for
shipping, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides)
• Producers wanting to extend the growing season in colder regions
• Consumers demanding safer, healthier fruits and vegetables with less
risk of contamination
• Current and future water shortages in California and the Southwest
• Wholesale producer buyers need to shorten shipping distances and
reduce freight costs
• The global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• The produce industry’s need to adapt to climate and weather extreme

42. Market for the Farm’s Produce
Current Markets
• Grocer Cooperatives
• Wholesale Dealers
• Restaurants
Potential Markets
• Supermarkets/Retail
Outlets
• Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA)
• Farmers Market’s
• Value Added Products
• Schools and Universities

43. Survey sent to
current and
potential
produce buyers

44. Online Produce
Market
• Web based e-commerce
• Provides up to date information
on fresh produce for sale
• Orders processed by credit
card, check, or money order
• Buyers communicate order
notes to producer
• Designed for wholesale buyers,
restaurants, grocer co-ops
• Open to registered users who
complete a profile
• Orders also placed by phone,
fax, and email

45. Sustainable High Tunnel Agriculture + Renewable
Energy (SHARE-d) High Tunnels

46. Sustainable Agriculture. Clean Energy.
• Joint venture high tunnel greenhouses
• Environmentally and financially sustainable
• Provides reliable supply of locally grown, organic
produce
• Excess produce sold on the open market
• Harvest fruits and vegetables at optimum ripeness and
flavor
• Increases yields and extends the growing season
• Merges the technologies to earn a rapid return on
investment

47. Contact Us
Erik Gundacker
(563) 650-3654
gun@usinternet.com
Craig Gundacker
(612) 961-3871
cegundacker@scenicvalleyfarms.com
www.scenicvalleyfarms.com