Tunnel Management

Haygrove tunnels are designed to be low cost, moveable (where required) and rotated with the crop and therefore need to be managed as part of the production process.

The key issues to manage are:

Venting

It is vital with tunnelled crops that temperature and relative humidity are managed. Venting with the Haygrove tunnel is very flexible and can include venting along the entire tunnel or venting at intervals to reduce hotspots and increase airflow.

Wind Management

Haygrove tunnels are managed successfully in windy and exposed sites. Wind management depends on the design and specification of the tunnel purchased and most importantly on whether the grower has invested in wind breaks.

For standard 4-Series Tunnels, the key is to manage the wind through venting the tunnels as follows:

> 50 kmph - vent to stage 1

> 65 kmph - vent to stage 2

> 80 kmph - vent to stage 3

> 110 kmph - move poly into leg row

For windy sites we will supply an enhanced steel grade, reduced leg spacing and steel top and side bracing.

For Telescopic, Solo Series and Trellis Series, the tunnels are designed to be very strong in wind and need less wind management.

Labour

Tunnels, done successfully, need to be built into the production process in the same way as for example irrigation or bed making. Typically labour input is as follows:

• Construction - 390 hours per ha.
• Venting - 60 to 180 hours per ha per year depending on the temperature, wind, rain and relative humidity through the season.

A Construction and Management Manual and 30 minute DVD are available for all Haygrove customers.