Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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      Fergus Falls, Minn. (AP) - Some growers have one or two high
tunnels, but Mark and Diane Boen are using seven in their 136-acre
direct market produce farm near Fergus Falls.


      The high tunnels have extended the Boens' growing season from
four months to seven months with vine plants and cabbage, Mark
said. The tunnels, also known as hoophouses, are greenhouses that
are often unheated.

      The Boens' operation now is a far cry from their start in
mid-1970s. The couple lived on a 10-acre property near Fergus
Falls. Growing vegetables for sale was one way the couple
supplemented Mark's income as a teacher.


      They purchased Mark's home farm from his parents, Kenneth and
Margaret. The farm, located northeast of Fergus Falls, was a dairy
operation and Mark milked cows with his parents.

      Teaching, milking cows and growing vegetables made for a busy
schedule.

      The dairy herd was sold in 1986 and Mark and Diane expanded
vegetable production.

      His interest in high tunnel production peaked after hearing
Terry Nennich speak about the relatively new production model at a
Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference in St. Cloud.

      They tore down the dairy barn to make way for the high tunnels,
he said. It was hard to see the barn go.

      A key player to the high tunnels remains the farm's greenhouse.
Plants get their start in the greenhouse and are transplanted in
April to the high tunnels.

      High tunnels allow for intense growth and maximum production,
but there are challenges, he said. Adjustments need to be made for
plant watering and fertilizing due to more heat in the tunnels.

      Boen has experimented with production of a principal and
secondary crop in the high tunnel. He started with crops that he
can trellis. Once plants start growing, he adds a secondary crop of
spinach, kohlrabi and flowers.

      Boen has tried beets and carrots, but says they don't do well in
his high tunnels. Peppers are also difficult mainly because of the
competition from principal plants. Cabbage does well in the outside
rows where it's not growing with other crops.

      The planting system gives him two harvests in the high tunnels.
Between the 100-plus acres of outdoor garden and the high tunnels,
the Boens offer around 30 types of vegetables to customers.


      Their produce is sold at stands. They have two stands each in
Fergus Falls and Fargo, N.D., and stands in Pelican Rapids and
Breckenridge.

      The couple says they are getting 132 times more income now than
when they first started their vegetable production.


      They aren't finished tweaking their system. The couple's next
project is to add an outdoor woodburner near the high tunnels to
pipe heat underground to warm up the soil.


      Information from: Agri News, http://www.agrinews.com/
      

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Some growers have one or two high
tunnels, but Mark and Diane Boen are using seven in their 136-acre
direct market produce farm near Fergus Falls.

High tunnels stretch season for Fergus Falls pair

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