SIMPSON, Ill. - More Illinois specialty crop growers are planting in high tunnels to extend their growing season, increase crop diversity, achieve higher yields, and improve quality. However, high tunnels come with unique challenges, including deciding on the layout and structural design, which can be overwhelming to those new to growing in a protected culture system.

During a high tunnel production program this July, Illinois Extension shared how these structures can benefit all levels of growers. A local contractor discussed the basic principles, construction concepts, and tools needed to prep, layout, and install a high tunnel. Bronwyn Aly, a local foods and small farms educator, said that high tunnels are not just for large-scale operations. They are something anyone can construct and maintain with time and planning.

“We have multiple high tunnels on the property at the Ag Center,” said Aly. “Our team handles any repairs or modifications each time they need to be done, and we have no prior experience with construction.”

While high tunnels can extend the growing season for commercial and small-scale farming operations, they also serve as an ideal location for pest management studies. The structures at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center provide a controlled environment for ongoing research with biological controls for pest management. Many growers treat infestations through chemical control, which can negatively impact biodiversity, human health, and the environment.

Through research studies with Specialty Crops Entomologist Kacie Athey, predatory insects like lady beetles or predatory mites were released into the high tunnels to act as natural enemies feeding on harmful pests. The project started in 2021 at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign Sustainable Student Farm and was replicated in the high tunnels at DSAC. The project expanded in 2023 to investigate other biological control methods by planting cut flowers and cover crops within the structure to draw in and retain more predators to help control pests. The ongoing study will monitor whether the flowers and cover crops lead to reduced insect infestations.

Students from the University of Illinois’ Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Computer Science program demonstrated a project using AI-powered robotics to automate operations for high tunnels. Robots equipped with sensors and cameras can be deployed into the high tunnels to collect real-time data and take photos to assess growing conditions, insect damage, and possible infestations on crops. The prototype includes a robotic arm that can also harvest a plant sample for further analysis.

By leveraging the unique advantages of high tunnels, researchers can advance the understanding of pest dynamics and develop innovative, sustainable pest management strategies that benefit both the agricultural community and the environment.

SOURCE: Bronwyn Aly, Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator, University of Illinois Extension, baly@illinois.edu, 618-695-2441