{"id":8882,"date":"2024-12-02T11:00:24","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T16:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/?p=8882"},"modified":"2024-12-02T11:00:24","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T16:00:24","slug":"nnyadp-research-winter-greens-production-may-be-best-before-year-end-in-northern-climate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/2024\/12\/02\/nnyadp-research-winter-greens-production-may-be-best-before-year-end-in-northern-climate\/","title":{"rendered":"NNYADP Research: Winter Greens Production May Be Best Before Year-End in Northern Climate"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"High
NNYADP-funded trial of late fall\/winter greens. Photo: Elisabeth Hodgdon, Ph.D.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Willsboro, New York; December 2, 2024.\u00a0 High tunnels help farmers to extend their growing seasons and sales, but crop selection and timing are critical decisions for production success and economic return. High tunnel crops research funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) produced mixed results for fall-winter greens production and income opportunities for growers in New York’s northern climate region.<\/p>\n

The research on direct-seeded greens grown from mid-September to early March produced data on which varieties had the best chance for high yield and high quality. The hoped-for news that the varieties could produce well for both extended fall and late winter (January-March) sales was only half fulfilled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe data suggest that the greens we trialed may be most worthwhile as a late fall crop to extend the season into November and December for the holiday markets, late-season community supported agriculture shares, or wholesale markets. The greens could be terminated in December rather than keeping the crop overwinter for regrowth in February and March,\u201d says Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Specialist Elisabeth Hodgdon, Ph.D.<\/p>\n

Hodgdon, and CCE Agricultural Business Development and Marketing Specialist Lindsey Pashow conducted trials of 20 varieties of salad greens in an unheated tunnel at the Willsboro Research Farm, Willsboro, New York. The trials included arugula, kale, and Asian mustards, lettuce, and spinach.<\/p>\n

Crop yields<\/strong> across the trials in 2022 and 2023 were higher for fall harvest than in winter. The all-varieties fall harvest yield total from the high tunnel from October 19 to December 5, 2022 was 109 pounds, 11 pounds in mid-March 2023. The fall harvest total yield from September 5 to October 30, 2023 under cooler, cloudier conditions was 49 pounds; 14 pounds harvested in February to March 4, 2024.<\/p>\n

The enterprise budget<\/strong> calculated for the trial in 2023 used an average yield of 0.17 pounds per square foot of tunnel space at $10 per pound grown in a 20-foot by 48-foot tunnel. Selling price average was based on grower interviews. Cost calculations showed the most expensive inputs as compost, seed, and harvest labor. The net result was a loss of $1,424.91. The project team, however, suggests considerations that may offset the risk of loss with the winter-grown tunnel crops, including mechanized seeding, harvest, and lower cost soil amendments.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the winter season data suggest these greens may not be profitable for overwintering production, some growers note that extended-season greens can serve as a \u2018loss leader\u2019 to add value to winter CSA shares, allow the farms to retain their labor force, and maintain their wholesale markets year-round,\u201d Pashow points out.<\/p>\n

Project collaborators included Cornell Willsboro Research Farm Manager Michael H. Davis, Ph.D., and Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist Judson Reid.<\/p>\n

The complete results for these trials<\/strong> in 2022 and 2023 are posted under the heading \u201cAlternative High Tunnel Crops for Northern New York\u201d at www.nnyagdev.org<\/a> under About\/NNYADP Projects by Year.<\/p>\n

\"NNYADP
\nFunding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature through the New York State Assembly and administrated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Willsboro, New York; December 2, 2024.\u00a0 High tunnels help farmers to extend their growing seasons and sales, but crop selection and timing are critical decisions for production success and economic return. High tunnel crops research funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) produced mixed results for fall-winter greens production and income opportunities […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8882","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-press-releases","7":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8882","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8882"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8882\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8887,"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8882\/revisions\/8887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnyagdev.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}