organic high tunnel bramble production and vegetable interplanting

- Organic High Tunnel Bramble Production & Vegetable Interplanting Feb 2 2012

• Scenic Valley Farm

• Scenic Valley Green Energy

• High Tunnel Construction and Comparison

• Bramble Spacing, Varieties & Nutritional Value

• Soil Preparation

• Irrigation and Fertigation Systems

• Trellis System

• Bramble Management & Fruiting Period

• Growth Characteristics & Winterization

• Market Potential & Blackberry Economics

• Intercropping

• SHARE Farm

• Payback

Overview

• 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

Scenic Valley Farms

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

Bramble Spacing and Varieties

• Spacing in High Tunnel • Four rows per 30’ wide tunnel • Each row 7’ apart and 4 ½’ from side walls • Brambles 3’ apart with 132 plants per 30’x96’

tunnel

• Bramble Varieties • Primocane (thorny) – Prime Jim and Jan • Floricane (thornless) Arapaho, Apache, Natchez,

Navaho, Chester, Triple Crown, Ouachita, Doyle

Blackberry Nutritional Value

• Healthiest food that rank highest in antioxidants- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006)

• Blackberry extract is a rich source of Anthocyanins • Anthocyanins are a group of naturally occurring phenolic compounds

related to the coloring of plants, flowers and fruits. • Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties • Fruits produce these compounds to protect themselves from UV

damage • The good: Very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Good

source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Folate, Magnesium, Potassium and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Manganese. The bad: A large portion of the calories comes from sugars. But they’re GOOD TASTING !!!!

Soil Preparation

• Composted ½ mushroom compost and ½ dairy manure

• Mixed one wheelbarrow per ten foot of row and tilled into soil

• Perform soil nutrient analysis

• Mulched around plants with mushroom compost or woodchips

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

• 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 time per week • Perform soil analysis beginning and end of season,

leaf analysis during growing season

Fertigation System

Weed Management • Three Techniques Employed:

1.Wood chips, saw dust 2.Layer of cardboard boxes and

wood chips 3.Mushroom compost, straw 4.Black polyester material (14-

24 mil) in 3’ and 6’ wide sections

5. One mil black plastic within rows - tomatoes

• Polyester generally most effective and least labor intensive

• Modified V/T system with bottom “T” 36” and top “T”66” above ground

• Run two strands of wire at tip of each crossbar

• Alternative: 4x4 non treated posts that are notched. Insert 2x4 “T”s

• Space posts 10’ apart • Year 1 canes tied to one side

of the strand and will bear fruit in year 2

• Fruit bearing year 2 canes will be pruned to ground to make room for the year 3 primocanes.

Trellis System

Bramble Management

• Pruned Prime Jim and Jan to ground in winter.

• Tip when new canes reach five feet in summer • New blossom supporting laterals appear within

weeks

• Continual pruning generates new blossoms

• Secure floricanes to two wires. Tip at 5’. Cut 4’ laterals back to 18” and secure to two wires.

• Prune to ground as soon as done bearing

Fruiting Period • Primocanes

• Fruiting began early August • Blackberries averaged 6-15 grams • Temperatures over 100° F hindered drupelet

formation • Brambles consumed large amounts of water • Difficult to harvest berries at optimal ripeness due to

softness • Thorns required gloves and heavy flannel shirt • Last harvest on Nov 18th (turned off supplemental

heat) • Numerous berries and blossoms still remained

on plant • Total yield from 12x40’ tunnel = 100 pounds

• Thornless Floricanes – All bore some fruit – Rabbits girdled canes on new first year growth.

Reduce production by 50% – HT1 Readstown fruited June 15th to August 6th – HT1 Rosemount fruited August 1st to September 7th – HT1 Readstown = 12 cases (one case = 12 5.6 oz

clams) – HT1 Rosemount =10 cases – Yield lower than expected for 2nd yr canes – 2nd year primocanes 20 times lateral growth as first

year – Natchez largest, sweetest and most berries by

volume

Fruiting Period

The blackberries on November 14th

• Brambles not shaded in Wisconsin • studier canes

• experienced faster growth

• developed more laterals

• Higher blossom counts and yields on primocanes in west vs. east end of high tunnel due to two extra hours of direct sunlight

• Better growth on root stock vs. culture stock

• Inconsistent growth of same variety frequently observed

Growth Characteristics

• Winter Protection • Installed thermostatically controlled

170,000 BTU propane heater that fires at 5° F and deactivates at 9 ° F (minimum temperatures of zone 7b climate)

• Forcing dormancy is lengthy process due to elevated temperatures and snow insulation

• Pest Issues

• Rabbits girdled floricanes over several days

• Trapped the critter but would have destroyed crop in two weeks or less

• Rabbits avoided primocane variety

• Final irrigation cycle on November 7th

• Heavily watered previous week

• No moisture over winter is a concern

• Elevated February temperatures may promote premature budding.

• Ventilated conventional high tunnel thru the use of exhaust fans and monitor signs of budding

• Cooled solar thermal high tunnel with fans

Winterization

Market Potential

• Wholesale MSP food brokers usually pay $7-8/lb. organic June 1 thru Nov. 30 – Potential Dealers: Sun Belle Inc, Bergin Fruit and Nut

Company, Organic Valley Farms, J & J Distribution • Direct Market

– Supermarkets/Retail Outlets – Grocer Cooperatives – Restaurants – Farmers Market’s ≈ $3.50 a half pint (6 oz)

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) • Value Added Products (e.g. jams, jellies, pies, candies) • Schools and Universities

Economics- Blackberries

Expense Income

High tunnel (30’x96’) , not including installation $8000

Irrigation and controller, trellis, fertigation tank $1400

Blackberry plants, tomatoes, spinach $400

End walls, side boards, door hardware, screws $800

Motorized rollup sides w/thermostat $900

Heater w/thermostat $350

Ventilation & Circulation w/thermostat $650

Plastic mulch $300

Income (2000#s per tunnel* at $8/organic blackberries pound - wholesale)

16000

Total $12800 $3200

*production levels reached in year four

Future Tasks • Submitted SARE proposal to research

methods to extend the season into September and October – Install shade cloth

– Use various mulches

– Adapt pruning methods

Intercropping

• Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity

• Important not to have crops competing with each other for physical space, nutrients, water, or sunlight

• SVF – blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, melons, eggplant, herbs

• Blackberries do not generate significant revenue until third growing season

Irrigation Layouts

This tunnel is 30’x96’, three zones (Zone A(rows # 2,3,4) Zone B (row #1) Zone C (row #5) , one EZ flow constant pressure fertigation tank

Tunnel 2(solar thermal).This tunnel is 30’x96’ planted with blackberries, tomatoes and peppers, three zones(one each

for red, purple and green rows) , one EZ flow constant pressure fertigation tank.

Tunnel 1. This tunnel is 30’x96’ planted with four rows of blackberries on one zone and three rows of

tomatoes on another zone with one EZ flow constant pressure fertigation tank

May 18th High tunnel 1

June 12th

May 18th High tunnel 1

June 12th

June 24th High tunnel 2 July 3rd High tunnel 1

July 3 High tunnel 2

High tunnel 1

July 24th

High tunnel 2

Oct 1st

High tunnel 3

July 21th

High tunnel 2

Nov 15th

High tunnel 3 Heirloom tomatoes &

Basil

Dec 31stst High tunnel 2 (solar thermal)

15 varieties of spinach, lettuce, Asian greens, bok choi planted the middle of

October

Boosting Produce Yields

• Yields typically 200-300% higher in high tunnels

• Our organic determinate tomato yields in 2011 = 20+ lbs per plant in solar thermal HT

• Established goal of 25-30 lbs/plant in 2012

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

7/15/2011 8/15/2011 9/15/2011 10/15/2011

Ave

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mar

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SVF Weekly Determinate Tomato Harvest (2011)

SVF High Tunnels

Total = 19.5 lbs per plant

All berries

Berries + Tomatoes

Berries + Tomatoes + Peppers (red)

Revenue yr 1 $0 $0+ $8775

$0+ $8775+ $7280

Revenue yr 2 $900 $900+ $4400

$900+ $4400+

2080

Revenue yr 3 $10500

$10500+ $0

$10500+ $0+ $0

Boosting High Tunnel Revenue

30x96’ high tunnel

Organic

Wholesale Pricing (MSP)

Blackberry=$8/# Tomato=$2.25/# Red Pepper=$3.5/# Green Pepper=$2/#

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

• 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

Sustainable Agriculture. Clean Energy.

Environmental Management System (EMS)

• Inexpensive climate control system for high tunnels

• User monitors and controls the climate from touch screen PLC, laptop, or Smartphone

• 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

Solar Thermal Heating

• 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

• Qualifies for 30 percent Federal Investment Tax Credit • Reduces active

income tax liability

Data Logger Conclusions

• Double poly layer raises night time air temps ≈ 7 F

• Solar thermal with double layer raises night time air temps ≈ 20 F

• Solar thermal soil temp reached 55F by March 15th

• Tomato Planting Schedule

• Outside May 23

• Conventional HT April 10 - some heat

• Solar Thermal HT March 15 – some heat

• Final Tomato Harvest Dates

• Outside Sept 23

• Conventional HT Oct 23 – some heat

• Solar Thermal HT Nov 24 – some heat

Estimated Return on Investment Solar Thermal High Tunnel

Contact Us

Craig Gundacker (612) 961-3871

cegundacker@scenicvalleyfarms.com

Erik Gundacker (563) 650-3654

gun@usinternet.com

www.scenicvalleyfarms.com