The Alabama Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will use the ACT NOW policy to streamline the delivery of conservation financial assistance. ACT NOW, allows NRCS to pre-approve ranked applications that meet or exceed a minimum environmental ranking threshold score continuously throughout a signup period.
Among the ranking pools considered will be the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative.
A High Tunnel System, commonly called a "hoop house," is an increasingly popular conservation practice for farmers, and is available with financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
High tunnels protect plants from severe weather and allow farmers to extend their growing seasons – growing earlier into the spring, later into the fall, and sometimes, year-round. And because high tunnels prevent direct rainfall from reaching plants, farmers can use precise tools like drip irrigation to efficiently deliver water and nutrients to plants. High tunnels also offer farmers a greater ability to control pests and can even protect plants from pollen and pesticide drift.
A number of soil health practices can be used in high tunnels, including cover crops and crop rotations, which also prevent erosion, suppress weeds, increase soil water content, and break pest cycles.
Perhaps the best thing about high tunnels is that they help farmers provide their communities with healthy local food for much of the year – food that requires less energy and transportation inputs.
Source: USDA