The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative has dropped the 2,178 square foot structural size restriction as of this year.
District Conservationist Meg Mueller in Kenai…
Mueller: “It used to be that high tunnel square footage was limited to 2,178 square feet, which was five percent of an acre. For 2014 they’ve lifted that size restriction. So people who currently have an application in the works can consider something larger and also people who’ve applied before can apply again.”
Mueller said that since it started in 2010, the Kenai Peninsula program has seen great participation.
Mueller: “In Kenai its roughly 70 and in Homer I think its something over 200. It’s a lot of high tunnels applied on the Kenai Peninsula.”
The initiative aims to extend Alaska’s short growing season and increase agricultural production by offering funding assistance.
The program will probably start funding projects for this summer starting in May or June according to Mueller.
