Economics of High Tunnel Vegetable & Strawberry Production in the Central Midwest Lewis W. Jett, Ph.D State Vegetable and Small Fruits Specialist West Virginia University 212 Agric. Sciences Building Morgantown, WV 2656 34-293-6131 (office) Presented at the 27 Indiana Horticultural Congress and Trade Show Atlas High Tunnel, Farmington, MO FarmTek High Tunnels, St. Louis, MO Stuppy Polar Cubs, Columbia, MO Stuppy Polar Cubs, Olathe, KS Haygrove Multi-bay High Tunnel, St. Louis, MO PVC (Home-made) High Tunnel, Kansas City, MO Zimmerman High Tunnel, Dittmer, MO Mobile PVC High Tunnel, Troy, MO Costs of High Tunnels (frame only) Used by Growers in the Central Midwest: Manufacturer Dimensions Cost ($/ft 2 ) Atlas Greenhouses 3 ft. x 96 ft..74 Conley Greenhouse Mfg 24 ft. x 96 ft..72 FarmTek 26 ft. x 96 ft. 1.16 Harnois Greenhouses 2 ft. x 96 ft..97 Haygrove Tunnels 24 ft. x 2 ft. 1.3 Stuppy Greenhouse 2 ft. x 96 ft..96 Zimmerman Welding 3 ft. x 96 ft. 1. Average 25 ft. x 96 ft. (24 ft 2 ).94 (1.44) Costs of High Tunnels (frame only) Used by Growers in the Central Midwest: Manufacturer Dimensions Cost ($/ft 2 ) Atlas Greenhouses 3 ft. x 96 ft..74 FarmTek 26 ft. x 96 ft. 1.16 Haygrove Tunnels 24 ft. x 2 ft. 1.3 Stuppy Greenhouse 2 ft. x 96 ft..96 Zimmerman Welding 3 ft. x 96 ft. 1. Average 25 ft. x 96 ft. (24 ft 2 ).94 (1.44) 1
Small high tunnels Large high tunnels Wide end walls for passive ventilation of the high tunnels: Greenhouse Capital Requirements: $6.5 per square foot Crops being grown within high tunnels in the Central Great Plains: 7 6 5 No. respondents 4 3 2 1 Tomatoes Cucurbits Peppers Salad Greens Spinach Green Beans Potatoes Peas Onions Carrots Brassicas Beets Strawberries Cut Flowers Herbs Source: 24-5 Central Great Plains High Tunnel Survey High Tunnel Tomatoes High Tunnel Cucumbers, Melons and Squash 2
High Tunnel Lettuce and Salad & Micro Greens High Tunnel Strawberries High Tunnel Small Fruit High Tunnel Flowers High Tunnel Figs 3
Spring/Winter Leafy greens Melons Broccoli Tomatoes Mixed Crops Strawberries Fall Summer Leafy greens Strawberries Tomatoes Wholesale Cooperative Produce Auctions Wholesale tomato prices: May-July (24) Wholesale Price ($/lb) 1.8 1.6 Average Price ($/lb 1.4 1.2 1.8.6.4.2 May 17 May 24 May 31 June 7 June 14 June 21 June 28 July 4 July 9 July 12 July 18 Date 5 4.5 4 3.5 Price/lb ($) 3 2.5 2 1.5 1.5 Retail Wholesale 4
High Tunnel Tomato Production Costs 16 5 lbs tomatoes 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 lbs tomatoes 45 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Yield/Plant Yield/High Tunnel Yield/acre equiv Yield/Plant Yield/High Tunnel Yield/acre equiv Pounds 15 Pounds 15 468 Planting Temp. and Humidity Mgt. Pre-harvest Costs: Stakes, Twine or Cages Material Costs per 1 ft 2 Stakes & Twine: $48. Labor: $5. Material Costs per 1 ft 2 Cages: $17.-34. Labor: $2. 5
Ventilation (air movement) is important for tomato pollination. 5-8 ft. Sidewalls Roof Vents Pruning may be necessary to promote earliness and reduce biomass within the high tunnel. Wide Endwalls Solar-powered Sidewall Vents In-line fittings Drip irrigation Soluble fertilizer 6
Row or Crop Covers: 1.5 per ft 2 Mulching for weed control: Intercropping can increase productivity per ft 2. 7
Pest Management Costs Beneficial Insects Insect screen Harvesting and Packaging 6 man hours per commercial high tunnel Total Production Costs: $5.5/plant 8
How profitable are high tunnel tomatoes? How profitable are high tunnel tomatoes? 8 lbs /plant 1 lbs/plant 12 lbs/plant 8 lbs /plant 1 lbs/plant 12 lbs/plant Net Revenue/1 ft2 ($ 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 Price/lb. ($) Net Revenue/1 ft2 ($ 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 Break Even Price Price/lb. ($) Spring/Winter Leafy greens Melons Broccoli Tomatoes Mixed Crops Strawberries VINE CROPS Fall Summer Leafy greens Strawberries Tomatoes 9
High Tunnel Cucurbit Pre-harvest Costs Trellising: Trellising Cucurbits: Improves harvest efficiency. Increases marketable yields. 1
Mulch: Pollination Pest Management 11
How profitable are high tunnel cantaloupes? Net Revenue ($) per 1 ft2 3 Melons/plant 4 Melons/plant 5 Melons/plant 18 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2-2.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5-4 Wholesale Price/Melon. ($) Retail Price/melon ($) 2 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.8.6.4.2 Wholesale Cantaloupe Prices (4 year avg.) June 28 July15 August 15 Sept. 15 Source: Wholesale Cantaloupe (muskmelon) prices, Central Missouri Produce Auction, Latham, MO ( 22-25). 12
Fall High Tunnel Cucumber Yields-25 Boxes (45 ct) per High Tunnel 18 16 14 12 No. 1 8 6 4 2 Hazera 456 Tyria Camaro Millago Tasty Green Genuine Timor Diva Socrates Indy Dasher II Cultivar Price/box ($) 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Wholesale Cucumber prices (4 year avg.) June1 June 25 July 5 July 16 August 15 Sept. 15 Prices at MO Wholesale Cooperative Produce Auctions http://agebb.missouri.edu/hort/auction/index.htm High Tunnel Strawberries Plant Costs 13
Packaging Costs Marketable Yields How profitable are high tunnel strawberries?.75 lbs/plant 1. lbs/plant 1.2 lbs/plant Thank you, and please visit the high tunnel web site: Net Revenue ($) per 1 ft2 45 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5-5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 $3./lb Avg. price from test mkts. Price/lb. ($) $1.28/lb break even price 14