‘Tunnel farming’ extends growing season by four months

Peggy Martin and Bud Manke are co-owners of Cedar Creek Gardens near Okaton, S.D., shown on Sept. 22, 2025, and were among the first South Dakota farmers to use tunnel buildings to extend their growing season. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch)

Cabbages grow within a tunnel at Cedar Creek Gardens near Okaton, SD, shown on Sept. 22, 2025. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch)

“Tunnel” installations reach up to 200 feet long at Cedar Creek Gardens near Okaton, S.D., shown on Sept. 22, 2025. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch)

Bud Manke, co-owner at Cedar Creek Gardens near Okaton, S.D., shown on Sept. 22, 2025, examines the watering system within a tunnel growing operation on the farm. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch)

Two different varieties of kale and other vegetables are being grown at the first high tunnel installed in the early 2000s at Cedar Creek Gardens near Okaton, S.D., shown on Sept. 22, 2025. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch)