High tunnels are primarily used for specialty crop production, including fruit and vegetables, and have been shown to increase quality and yield. There are over 1,500 high tunnels in Kentucky. Many of the people acquiring high tunnels are completely new to farming and do not have experience with basic management like irrigation. There are several factors to consider when setting up irrigation for the first time. Unless they have farms themselves, many Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents do not have the experience or information to assist these new growers with irrigation guidance and set up. Many new growers are also unfamiliar with soil sampling and interpreting the results of soil samples. Although CES agents may be well-versed in open field soil fertility recommendations, there are nuances specific to high tunnel production that need to be considered and should be brought to the growers’ attention. Soil sampling for vegetable production should happen in the fall. This is also often an opportune time to implement cover crops which can improve soil quality. During the training, different cover crops were discussed along with optimal seeding rates, usage, seeding dates, and termination. This training was developed to train agents on the basic questions that may arise and how they can best answer these questions. It was led by Extension Vegetable Specialist Rachel Rudolph with Professor Emeritus Brent Rowell assisting. The topics were chosen based off of questions that agents regularly receive from growers.

This was the fifth training in a series that is part of a grant led by Dr. Rudolph. The grant is titled, Experiential High Tunnel Training for Cooperative Extension Service Agents in Kentucky and is funded by Southern SARE. 

Fifteen agents participated in the training. A pre- and post-survey found increases in agents’ level of knowledge in the following areas:

1. The basics of drip irrigation—what it is, the benefits, considerations, general cost, etc. (33%)
2. Correct terminology to describe different aspects of an irrigation system (63%)
3. The math or calculations involved with drip irrigation (108%)
4. Setting up a drip irrigation system (51%)
5. Reading and properly interpreting soil test results (7%)
6. Calculating fertilizer for fertigation purposes (55%)
7. The difference between cover crops, the potential benefits and considerations that should be made (27%)

The same surveys also found an increase in agents’ level of confidence with regards to assisting growers:

1. Advising a grower on how to set up a drip irrigation system (55%)

2. Assisting a grower on calculating what drip irrigation is possible on their property (52%)
3. Advising a grower on how to calculate fertilizer for fertigation (75%)
4. Explaining how to interpret soil test results to a grower (11%)
5. Advising a grower on selecting the right cover crop for their farm/system (43%)

Because of the training, agents indicated more confidence in their ability to assist high tunnel growers with their questions related to soil sampling, soil fertility, irrigation, and cover cropping. With proper soil fertility and irrigation, growers can be more successful and profitable by increasing marketable yields and preventing crop loss. By educating and better capacitating agents, knowledge transfer to growers can increase exponentially.