Important Considerations For Investing in Greenhouse Technology

By Stan Vander Waal|January 9, 2019

As we continue to invest in greenhouse technology, we learn how we have failed to adequately plan for the technology we hope to employ. Here are some considerations:

1 of 4

1 of 4

Rainbow Greenhouses’ propagation zone including Zwart Irrigation Booms, WPS conveyers, heated floors (concrete), LumiGrow LED’s, and thermo curtains, in an 8-meter wide structure.
Photo courtesy of Rainbow Greenhouses
2 of 4

Rainbow Greenhouses’ latest 4-acre addition includes an ErfGoed Ebb-flow heated floor; thermo and black-out curtains; walkways at the ends of the greenhouse; insulated wall panels on non-essential wall areas; diffused glass for the propagation area; and Cherry Creek booms.
Photo courtesy of Rainbow Greenhouses
3 of 4

Also in the 4 acres are roll-up curtains on zone walls, tucked away between purlins and rolls on post lines to allow for work with different crop timings or light interruption per bay; valve set for the Erfgoed Ebb-flow Irrigation system, and a concrete foundation wall.
Photo courtesy of Rainbow Greenhouses
4 of 4

This Heat Plant has a distribution header to supply 20 acres. Rainbow Greenhouses is currently running a 950HP Crone Boiler with Heat exchanger, and will add another 950HP to meet heat needs for the next 8 acres.
Photo courtesy of Rainbow Greenhouses

Start by thinking modular. It’s critical to allow for growth and change, so your technology can adapt to what you are building.
If you are not a mono-crop grower, you must remain flexible to support things like pot sizes, different crops, conveyers, carts, and big things like heating and electrical.
Share with your greenhouse supplier what you plan to put in for equipment as you plan your build because this can affect simple things like water drainage and complex items like layout. When considering lighting, black out zones, basket systems, and watering booms, it’s important to plan watering, electrical, and doors to avoid losing space and complicating systems.
Take the time to plan, to avoid complexity. Keep it simple or your staff will move your expensive equipment aside in frustration.

Is It a Need or a Want?
I once had a supplier ask me, “Are you a grower or a greenhouse builder?” As owners, we come up with awesome ideas to build and equipment to buy that is not always the best for production.

With the cost of greenhouse technology today, you need to put careful thought into your intended purchase and have good data to support an investment. I challenge my staff to track the cost of tasks to help support investments. At the end of the day, it’s about the return on investment. I need data to demonstrate that what we are doing is a good investment.

Typically, we look for a three- to five-year payback; we consider three a no-brainer.

Technology changes quickly. Make sure it works with your other systems. Consider that other changes may be required as a result of the new equipment you’re implementing.

Top Articles

First-Ever Great Plains Biochar Conference to Debut in Lincoln, NE

Lastly, as an owner I have to ask myself, “Is this really practical, or is the latest and greatest driving my decision?”

Can I Afford It?
Back to return on investment. I’ll repeat the above. If it’s a three-year payback, it’s a no-brainer. Get on it.

If it’s a 10-year-plus investment, you may want to ask yourself, “Can I afford not to do this?” You might have to live with the decision for a lifetime. It’s better to scale back the project and do it right.

Back to modular. If you plan for the future from day one, you save mega bucks in the end. Take it from someone who has renovated and built 20-plus projects. We are still trying to get it right! Most of us start small and don’t have a grand vision. I suggest trying to think about the grand vision and the what-ifs ahead of time.