Getting started with Hoophouse Management: Beginning farmer webinar series

Collin Thompson, Michigan State University Extension - December 30, 2016

In response to widespread interest in season extension, Michigan State University Extension is offering a “Getting Started with Hoophouse Management” webinar as part of its Beginning Farmer Webinar Series.

The North Farm’s 30’ x 192’ hoophouse planted for winter production.

On February 13, Michigan State University Extension will host “Getting Started with Hoophouse Management.” This two-hour webinar starts at 7 p.m. and will cover a wide range of topics to help beginning growers identify ways to produce vegetables year-round.

This webinar will be presented by Collin Thompson, Community Food Systems Educator and Farm Manager for MSU’s North Farm. The North Farm is located at the Michigan State University Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center (UPREC) in Chatham and focuses on supporting growers and conducting research related to vegetable production in northern climates. Using specific season extension technologies and techniques, The North Farm is able to produce harvestable vegetables year-round. The “Getting Started with Hoophouse Management” webinar will provide details on these practices, covering structure and site considerations, variety selection, planting schedules, systems development, and a variety of other topics to help beginners get started growing in hoophouses. Participants will have the opportunity to hear about specific practices that are being used at The North Farm, as well as ask questions of the presenter related to their own experiences.

MSU Extension’s annual Beginning Farmer Webinar series features nine, two-hour webinars running from January 30 to May 8. These events cover a wide range of topics and are designed to offer participants the opportunity to learn basic concepts and principles of various production systems through live, interactive webinars with MSU experts. Registration for each webinar costs $10, or participants may register for all nine webinars for $45. To register online, participants may go to https://events.anr.msu.edu/BegFrmWeb2017/. A downloadable flyer with program and registration details is also available.

If you are interested in learning more about the “Getting Started with Hoophouse Management” webinar, feel free to reach out to Collin Thompson at 906-439-5058 or thom1264@msu.edu. Thompson is the Farm Manager of The North Farm at the Michigan State University Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center in Chatham, Michigan and a Community Food System Educator with MSU Extension.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).