Kentucky commercial growers produce a wide range of specialty crops. In 2017, cash receipts for fruit and vegetable production totaled $41.6 million (National Agriculture Statistics Service and Economic Research Commission). Direct sales make up a more than 50% of produce sales in the state (National Agriculture Statistics Service and Economic Research Commission), which allows for improved access to local foods. Both commercial and home growers of specialty crops can face many challenges that may limit produce yield and/or quality. The use of high tunnels to produce specialty crops has been shown to improve both yield and quality. There are over 1,000 high tunnel across the state of Kentucky. However, many growers are either new to high tunnel production or unfamiliar with it entirely. High tunnel production is unique and cannot be approached the same way as open field production. Thus, there is a need for education about proper production practices and integrated pest management as a way for growers to continue to produce high quality specialty crops in the state of Kentucky.      

As a way to educate producers about the various aspects of specialty crops production, a webinar series was developed by University of Kentucky Extension Specialists. During the months of September through December, 2019, a one and a half hour program was provided two to three times a month on a specific specialty crop or production system. Specialist and selected County Extension Agents provided PowerPoint presentations via Zoom. County Extension Agents facilitated each live session for local growers in their counties. This program format resulted in improved audience reach, while reducing travel costs and time for Specialists. 

Overall, the nine webinar sessions were attended by a total of 296 individuals representing 41 counties from across the state. While this program was developed for commercial producers, sessions were attended by both commercial and home growers. Participants were asked to complete a before and after survey to gauge demographics of the audience, changes in knowledge, and anticipated changes in practices. The following is a summary of the survey results for the high tunnel portion of the webinar series. 

Dr. Rachel Rudolph selected the topics as well as organized and facilitated the three high tunnel sessions in October 2019. She along with eight other Extension Specialists and one County Extension Agent provided content for the program on commercial high tunnel production in the three sessions. A total of 117 individuals participated in these sessions. Surveys found that 39% of attendees were already growing commercially, 37% planned to start growing commercially in the future, and 24% produced in a high tunnel for personal consumption only. Fifty four percent of attendees did not have a high tunnel in 2019 and 32% had one high tunnel in production in 2019. Individuals expressed an interest in increasing production in the future, as 55% of participants anticipated one high tunnel for production by 2020. Attendees indicated that mostly tomatoes, with other vegetables (26%) and diversified vegetables (22%) were the most commonly produced crops. Participants has little to no experience, with 40% stating they had no experience with high tunnel production, and 23% indicating they had between one and five years of experience. Surveys showed participants increased their knowledge in the following areas:

• general high tunnel information (50%), 
• flower production in a high tunnel (133%), 
• strawberry production in a high tunnel (120%), 
• physical and mechanical weed management in a high tunnel (51%), 
• applying herbicides in a high tunnel (95%), 
• techniques for how to sample and monitor pests (66%), 
• applying insecticides in a high tunnel (75%), 
• how to scout and monitor for disease in a high tunnel (65%), 
• applying fungicides in a high tunnel (86%), 
• how to conduct a proper/accurate soil sample (37%), 
• how to monitor soil fertility and know when an application needs to be made (65%),
• how to calculate fertilizer rates (78%), 
• how to sample for arthropod pests in a high tunnel (91%), 
• how to use biological control in a high tunnel (110%), 
• the importance of sanitation for pest and disease management (45%), 
• the potential benefits of using biological control to manage pests in a high tunnel (58%),
• how to manage and prevent disease using non-chemical methods (56%). 

As a result of attending this program, participants indicated that they were likely or definitely will make the following changes to their high tunnel production: 

• start producing in a high tunnel (55%), 
• continue producing in a high tunnel (50%), 
• grow flowers in a high tunnel (74%), 
• grow strawberries in a high tunnel (39%), 
• manage weeds in high tunnel differently (79%), 
• manage pests in a high tunnel differently (71%), 
• manage diseases in a high tunnel differently (71%), 
• manage soil in a high tunnel differently (86%), 
• monitor the soil salinity of your high tunnel (86%), 
• use biocontrol to manage pests in your high tunnel (86%), 
• utilize non-chemical methods to prevent or manage disease in your high tunnel (86%)

Fifty four percent of growers indicated they anticipated a somewhat greatly improved quality or increase in yield in their high tunnel production due to attending the high tunnel October 2019 program. The specialty crop programs were well-received by growers, and additional sessions are planned for 2020.