Hoophouse Contributions to Economic Viability: Nine Michigan Case Studies

• DOI: 10.21273/horttech.20.5.877
• Publication Date: 2018-12-14T18:23:28Z
• Authors: David S. Conner; Kurt B. Waldman; Adam D. Montri; Michael W. Hamm; John A. Biernbaum
• Keywords: Investment; Payback period; Growing season

Relatively low-cost season extension structures have the potential to contribute farm economic viability in temperate climates by providing a means continue sales beyond limits of outdoor-only field production. These structures, commonly called hoophouses, high tunnels, passive solar greenhouses, or unheated allow for heat-tolerant (warm season) crops on both ends production time frame and at winter harvesting cold-tolerant (cool crops. In this study, results are presented from multiyear investigation into impacts year-round harvesting, with focus profitability structure crop as whole. The case studies nine Michigan farms reveal very broad range outcomes across construction time, labor allocation returns, gross net revenue. implications farmer use, including projected investment payback discussed.