Usda nrcs pilot high tunnel program

Qualifications for projects vary by state, but the purpose of the high tunnel must be to extend the growing season, improve plant quality, improve soil quality and improve water quality. The USDA will provide financial assistance for the costs of purchasing and installing the seasonal high tunnel. EQIP may also provide funding for supporting practices that are required for the high tunnel program, such as runoff management, pest management, conservation crop rotation and more.

This includes limited resource farmers, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged producers and tribes. Supporting practices may be needed to ensure that resource concerns associated with implementing and managing high tunnel systems are addressed.

These conservation practices may include:. Ready to make a high tunnel system part of your operation? High tunnels also known as hoop houses are structures that modify the growing climate, allowing for tender, sensitive, and specialty crops like certain varieties of vegetables, herbs, berries, and others to grow where they otherwise may not. High tunnels are constructed of metal bow frames with wood framed ends, at least six feet in height, and are covered with one or two layers of polyethylene.

High tunnels can lengthen the timeframe for local marketing of produce, which increases sustainability while lowering energy and transportation inputs. An extended growing season and steady income may offer advantages to small, limited resource, and organic farmers. They can also assist producers transitioning to specialty crops. NRCS provides financial assistance for high tunnels up to a maximum of five percent of one acre, or a total of 2, square feet. Landowners can purchase and install larger high tunnels, but NRCS will only pay for the first 2, square feet.

Plants must be planted in the ground or in permanent raised beds, not containerized. Since water runoff from high tunnels can cause erosion, pooling and other environmental concerns, additional conservation practices may be installed as a condition for the installation of a high tunnel. Applicants must be:. However, NRCS sets dates to prioritize applications as funding allows. Contact your local NRCS office for more details. Natural Resources Conservation Service.