Tag Archives: microgreens

Weather Damage

One of the primary reasons we advocate controlled environment agriculture is to eliminate damage of crops grown outdoors and in high tunnels that are not protected from weather damage. One farmer using a high tunnel to grow microgreens had the entire crop delivered by air mail free of charge to the next county when Hurricane Matthew visited, and had damage to the high tunnel frame in addition to the ripped plastic.

Microgreens in High Tunnel

Hurricane Matthew – Damage to High Tunnel Frame and Plastic

Sales Projections

Microgreens

10″ between pans, 4 pans per rack, 30″x60″ pan size, 4 trays per pan, 1 pound expected yield per tray, 1 week harvest, $80 per pound price
One rack of 4 pans 30″x60″ each: 800W LED, 960W total
(4 pans/rack)*(4 trays/pan)*(1 pound/tray) = 16 pounds per week yield
(16 pounds)*($80/pound) = $1,280 per week income
($1,280/week)*(52 weeks/year) = $66,560 annual income
One 40′ cargo container with 8 racks of pans: 6.4 kW LED, 7.7 kW total
(8 racks/container)*(4 pans/rack)*(4 trays/pan)*(1 pound/tray) = 128 pounds per week yield
(128 pounds)*($80/pound) = $10,240 per week income
($10,240/week)*(52 weeks/year) = $532,480 annual income

Tall Plants

48″ between pans, 2 pans per rack, 30″x60″ pan size, 8 of 10 gallon fabric pot with ceramic substrate per pan, 1 pound expected yield per pot, 3 month harvest, $800 per pound price
One rack of 2 pans 30″x60″ each: 1600W LED, 1920W total
(2 pans/rack)*(8 pots/pan)*(1 pound/pot) = 16 pounds per harvest yield
(16 pounds)*($800/pound) = $12,800 per harvest income
($1,280/harvest)*(4 harvests/year) = $51,200 annual income
One 40′ cargo container with 8 racks of pans: 12.8 kW LED, 15.4 kW total
(8 racks/container)*(2 pans/rack)*(8 pots/pan)*(1 pound/pot) = 128 pounds per harvest yield
(128 pounds)*($800/pound) = $102,400 per harvest income
($102,400/harvest)*(4 harvests/year) = $409,600 annual income