This project looked at increasing the productivity and cost effectiveness of growing more crops in a hoop house by utilizing the overhead space. Farmer Kurt Forman, of Palmyra, N.Y., and Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Specialist Robert Hadad looked at using a hanging gutter system to raise selected crops over the existing in-ground crops. They looked at cost-effective design, operation, production strategies, cost of production and profitability of such a system.
Forman’s farm is almost completely certified organic, and is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6a.
About this series: Farmer and Rancher Innovations, part of the Ag Innovations series, capture the lessons learned from SARE-funded trials and demonstrations conducted primarily by farmers and ranchers.
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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.