Notes · alternatives · not a payment schedule
High tunnel alternatives: low tunnel, caterpillar, polycarbonate hobby
Growers who are not ready for a commercial high-tunnel kit keep landing on three other covers: a field low tunnel, a movable caterpillar, and a backyard polycarbonate hobby house. This page copies live list prices and land-grant / NRCS sentences. It does not invent a pound-per-square-foot rating, an EQIP payment, or a house a source did not print.
Sources retrieved 30 September 2026, about 03:07 UTC (29 September 2026, America/Los_Angeles). Farmers Friend Classic / Gothic / Max caterpillar PDPs, Haven High Tunnel, Johnny's 3′ Quick Hoops low-tunnel bender, and CPS 325 (nrcs-prod.azureedge.us) were opened live tonight (HTTP 200). Amazon featured one-time prices were copied from live PDPs the same night. Hobby listings with no featured offer or HTTP 404 were skipped. Gaps stay an em dash.
Home: Tunnel Spec. Kit index: commercially manufactured kits. Size map: high-tunnel sizes. Profile notes: gothic vs Quonset. The two-way caterpillar SKU race stays on caterpillar vs high tunnel— this page does not rebuild it. Film: 6-mil plastic replacement. What EQIP will not pay for: greenhouses and low tunnels. Method: about Tunnel Spec.
Sourced comparison
Cells below are copied or labeled from the pages opened tonight. A blank cell means that source did not state the figure. Gothic NRCS language is vendor copy, not a county letter.
| Field | Low tunnel | Caterpillar | Hobby PC greenhouse | Commercial high tunnel | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is (sourced language) | Johnny's: EMT hoops under fabric row cover or plastic. 3′ wide × 4.5′ tall hoops on the 3′ Quick Hoops bender page. | Farmers Friend collection: simple, movable steel bows and greenhouse plastic, “without the complexity or cost of a permanent greenhouse.” | Palram Hybrid PDP: backyard / home-garden walk-in polycarbonate greenhouse, aluminum frame, lockable door, roof vent. | Haven PDP: “premium High Tunnel kit,” 16 ft wide, metal baseboards, roll-up sides, 6-mil film. | These are vendor sentences, not a legal definition. |
| Peak / height tonight | 3′ wide × 4.5′ tall hoops (Johnny's 3′ bender). Not a walk-in house. | Gothic 14-ft Standard displayed: peak 9 ft. Max: Classic 12 ft 3 in / Gothic 12 ft 11 in. | Palram Hybrid 6×8 listing: 97″ L × 73″ W × 82″ H. | Haven: Classic 8 ft 8 in; Gothic 10 ft. | CPS 325: high-tunnel frame at least 6 feet at the peak. A 4.5-ft hoop is not that frame. |
| Example list tonight | Johnny's 3′ Quick Hoops bender $107.10 (reduced from $119.00). Out of stock. Bender only — conduit sourced locally. | Classic 14×20 Standard $1,392.00 (TN-7889). Gothic 14×20 Standard $1,582.00 (TN-3554). Max Classic 30-ft $3,185.00 (TN-7208) before DIY end walls. | Palram Hybrid 6×8 silver B00P0REDI8 featured one-time $599.99, in stock, sold by Poly-Tex, Inc. | Haven displayed $3,348.00 (Gothic / 24-ft selected on that PDP). Zipper end walls $349 each were add-ons, not this $3,348. | A 6×8 hobby house is not a 16×24 high tunnel. A bender is not a kit. |
| Cover | Johnny's: fabric row cover or plastic. UAEX: secondary cover ~2–5°F under a frost blanket inside a high tunnel — that is not this field hoop. | Farmers Friend: all kits include 6-mil greenhouse plastic. | Twin-wall polycarbonate roof + crystal-clear PC side panels (Palram copy). | Haven: 32-ft-wide 6-mil greenhouse plastic, 4-year rating. | Amazon 16×90 and 15×40 sheets are pack sizes, not a roof takeoff. |
| EQIP / CPS 325 | CPS 325: “The practice does not include greenhouses or low tunnel systems.” | Gothic page prints “NRCS Grant Eligible” and “meet the basic 325R National NRCS specifications” — vendor copy; “contact your local NRCS rep.” No official wind rating. | Same CPS 325 greenhouse exclusion. A Palram hobby house is a greenhouse on its own PDP. | FAQ: financial assistance is for the structure itself. CPS 325: manufactured kit; ≥6 ft at the peak. County decides. | No payment dollar. Rules vary; call the county NRCS office. |
Low tunnel / mini hoops
A low tunnel is a field hoop under fabric or plastic that you do not walk into. Johnny's 3′ Quick Hoops page is a bender, not a manufactured high-tunnel kit. Conduit is bought locally. Displayed tonight $107.10 — Out of Stock tonight. Price reduced from $119.00 to $107.10.
Quick Hoops Benders are an economical way to create strong low tunnel hoops out of galvanized electrical conduit (EMT) to withstand heavy winds and winter snow loads. This extra-tall low tunnel is ideal for protecting crops like cut flowers, peppers, and Brussels sprouts. Cover with fabric row cover or plastic to allow for extra degrees of warmth when temperatures are cool, exclude insect pests with insect netting, or protect cut flower petals against water damage. Creates 3' wide x 4.5' tall hoops to protect crops when used with row covers; 10–15 ft. widths are recommended. This kit includes one bender and detailed instructions on how to bend your own low tunnel hoops. NOTE: We recommend using ½" conduit, which can be sourced locally.Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds — Low Tunnel Hoop Bender – 3′ Quick Hoops™. Retrieved 30 September 2026, about 03:07 UTC. Vendor snow-and-wind language is not a PSF. A hoop bender versus a prefab kit is on hoop bender DIY vs prefab kit.
A secondary cover, often called a row cover or frost blanket, is made from lightweight material and placed over a row (or multiple rows) of plants. Mimicking the high tunnel’s ability to capture heat, the air beneath a secondary cover can be a few degrees (~2-5°F) warmer than the ambient air inside the high tunnel.Source: University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture — High Tunnel Production Guide for Arkansas and the Southeast (MP586). That sentence is a secondary cover inside a high tunnel — not a field low tunnel. Winter lettuce notes stay on winter lettuce in a high tunnel.
Caterpillar tunnel
Farmers Friend's live configurators tonight: Classic 14×20 Standard $1,392, Gothic 14×20 Standard $1,582, Max Classic 30-ft $3,185 before DIY end-wall add-ons. Those SKUs sit off the 9-kit high-tunnel index. The full comparison — including missed Bootstrap / Rimol / FarmTek caterpillar searches — stays on caterpillar vs high tunnel.
Caterpillar tunnels are simple, movable structures designed to protect crops from wind, frost, rain, and pests while extending your growing season. Built from high-strength steel bows and greenhouse plastic, these tunnels create a controlled environment that boosts yields and improves crop quality, without the complexity or cost of a permanent greenhouse.Source: Farmers Friend — Caterpillar Tunnels. Classic:
The Classic tunnel ( LEFT ) is cost-effective and portable. It’s a great starter tunnel and is excellent for those who frequently move it around their farm. Two people can fully assemble our 14′ × 100′ Classic Tunnel in as few as two hours. Our Caterpillar Tunnel kits are fast and easy to move around your farm as production needs change throughout the season. All kits include 6 mil greenhouse plastic.(Classic Caterpillar). Max:The new 21-ft wide Caterpillar Tunnel Max provides 50% more growing space than a standard 14-wide Caterpillar Tunnel. Peak Height Gothic 12 feet, 11 inches Classic 12 feet, 3 inches. Our Caterpillar Tunnel Max kits are movable by design to adapt to your farm's needs. Plastic Rating 6-mil, 4 year.(Caterpillar Tunnel Max).
Our tunnels meet the basic 325R National NRCS specifications. Ultimately, you should contact your local NRCS rep and provide our installation manual found at the top of this page and the spec sheet(s) attached to our knowledge base article, “Do your tunnels meet NRCS specifications?” for their review.There is no official wind rating on our tunnels. The caterpillar tunnel is designed to be a moveable structure. Therefore, it is inherently not made to withstand high winds.Source: Farmers Friend — Gothic Caterpillar. “NRCS Grant Eligible” on that page is vendor copy, not a county determination. No invented wind rating.
Polycarbonate hobby greenhouse
One Amazon hobby house printed a featured one-time price tonight: Palram Hybrid 6×8 silver, $599.99, in stock. Four other Palram / Outsunny candidates had no featured offer or returned 404 and stay off the priced table.
The Hybrid is an ingenious greenhouse offering the gardening enthusiast a precise balance of two advanced virtually unbreakable polycarbonate panels along with a strong durable rust-resistant aluminum frame, now you can start growing earlier and continue growing later. The twin-wall roof panels block up to 100% of harmful UV rays and diffuse the direct sunlight; the crystal-clear side panels offer over 90% light transmission.Source: Amazon — Palram Hybrid 6×8 (B00P0REDI8). Product dimensions on that PDP: 97″ L × 73″ W × 82″ H. A 6×8 walk-in is not a commercial high-tunnel rectangle on the size hub.
Commercial high tunnel
Haven displayed $3,348 tonight with Gothic and 24-ft selected. Peak Classic 8 ft 8 in / Gothic 10 ft. Width 16 ft. That kit, and eight siblings, live on the kit index. Peaked versus round stays on gothic vs Quonset.
Introducing the Haven High Tunnel—a premium High Tunnel kit from Farmers Friend, refreshed for 2025. Peak Height Classic 8 feet 8 inches Gothic 10 feet. Tunnel Width 16 feet wide. Plastic 32 feet wide 6-mil greenhouse plastic 4-year.Source: Farmers Friend — Haven High Tunnel. Zipper end walls $349 each were add-ons on that configurator, not the $3,348.
EQIP: structure, not a greenhouse payment
The practice does not include greenhouses or low tunnel systems.The high tunnel frame must be constructed of metal, wood, or durable plastic; and be at least 6 feet in height at the peak of the structure.The high tunnel structure must be planned, designed, and constructed from a manufactured kit in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.Source: NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 325 High Tunnel System, re-opened 30 September 2026, about 03:07 UTC.
Under the High Tunnel System Initiative, financial assistance is provided only for the structure itself. Electricity, venting systems, lighting, etc. can be installed providing the additions meets manufacturer’s designs and specifications. However, the grower is responsible for those costs.Source: USDA NRCS High Tunnel System Initiative FAQ (Updated November 2024; Oregon-branded). Longer exclusion notes stay on what EQIP will not pay for. This site does not invent an EQIP dollar. Rules vary; call your county NRCS office. Not legal advice.
Parts · not kits
Amazon film, clamps, cover, and hold-downs
Featured prices copied 30 September 2026, about 03:07 UTC. Kit CTAs stay on manufacturer URLs above. Film, lock channel, and staples are also compared on 6-mil plastic replacement, wiggle wire, and ground anchors.
Amazon Associate disclosure. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
| Kind | Listing | ASIN | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobby PC greenhouse | Palram - Canopia Hybrid 6' x 8' Polycarbonate Aluminum Greenhouse, SilverIn stock. Featured one-time purchase $599.99. Sold by Poly-Tex, Inc. A 6×8 walk-in hobby house, not a commercial high-tunnel kit. | B00P0REDI8 | $599.99 |
| 6-mil film | Bootstrap Farmer Greenhouse Plastic 4 Year 6 mil UV Resistant Clear Polyethylene Film 16' x 90'Only 4 left tonight. Featured one-time purchase $269.99. A 16-foot-wide roll is a short sheet, not a 30×96 roof. | B07D22SZCQ | $269.99 |
| 6-mil film | VEVOR Greenhouse Plastic Sheeting 15 x 40 ft, 6 Mil Thickness UV Resistant Clear Polyethylene FilmFeatured one-time purchase $50.90. Too short for a 16-foot Haven roof. | B09HCHZNCL | $50.90 |
| Snap clamp | Jiggly Greenhouse Snap On Clamp for Securing Plastic Film to 3/4" [1" OD] EMT Conduit or PVC (Pack of 20)In stock. Featured one-time purchase $21.50. EMT / PVC clip for low-tunnel film, not a kit. | B08DXXJX9Y | $21.50 |
| Wiggle wire / lock channel | Bootstrap Farmer Spring Wire & Lock Channel 20 of Each Wiggle Locking Greenhouse Plastic Shade ClothIn stock. Featured one-time purchase $190.99. 6.5 ft pieces. Farmers Friend caterpillar copy holds film with rope, not this channel. | B01BC4HBQI | $190.99 |
| Frost blanket | Agfabric Plant Covers Freeze Protection 5'x25' 0.55oz Frost Blankets for PlantsFeatured one-time purchase $11.99 on the B01BU13PJK PDP. Product-information table also printed parent ASIN B00N2EKDQC. Pack size only. | B01BU13PJK | $11.99 |
| Floating row cover | Agfabric Floating Row Covers 0.9oz 6'x50' Plant Frost Blanket for Cold Weather ProtectionFeatured one-time purchase $36.99. Only 9 left tonight. Pack size only. | B08G1VWTPZ | $36.99 |
| Landscape staples | HOOPLE 200Pack 6 Inch 11 Gauge Galvanized Landscape StaplesFeatured one-time purchase $17.99. Pack size only. | B08C78BB9L | $17.99 |
Skipped tonight: B08R3M1ZB4 (Outsunny 6×8 PC candidate. HTTP 404 tonight.) B08LYF4868 (Palram Hybrid 6×8 gray. No featured offer tonight.) B07YP9N8QQ (Palram Hybrid 6×8 forest green. No featured offer tonight.) B08634P7NT (Opened as Palram Mythos; live ASIN B00JAI9S1A. No featured offer.) B0DQVT8ZGD (Palram Hybrid 6×8 black. No featured offer tonight.)
FAQ
- What is a low tunnel versus a caterpillar versus a high tunnel?
- Johnny's 3′ Quick Hoops page describes EMT hoops 3 feet wide and 4.5 feet tall under fabric row cover or plastic — not a walk-in house. Farmers Friend’s collection page calls caterpillar tunnels simple, movable steel-bow houses with greenhouse plastic, without the complexity of a permanent greenhouse. The same vendor’s Haven page is labeled a High Tunnel kit: 16 feet wide, metal baseboards, roll-up sides, peaks 8 ft 8 in (Classic) / 10 ft (Gothic). Those are vendor sentences. This page does not invent a legal definition.
- Does EQIP pay for a low tunnel or a hobby polycarbonate greenhouse?
- CPS 325, re-opened tonight, says the practice does not include greenhouses or low tunnel systems, and that a high-tunnel frame must be at least 6 feet at the peak and built from a manufactured kit. The High Tunnel System Initiative FAQ says financial assistance is provided only for the structure itself. A Palram Hybrid 6×8 is a greenhouse on its own Amazon PDP. A 4.5-foot hoop is a low tunnel on Johnny's page. This site does not invent a payment dollar. Rules vary; call your county NRCS office.
- When do growers pick a caterpillar instead of a high tunnel?
- Farmers Friend says the Classic is cost-effective and portable, excellent for growers who frequently move a tunnel, and that two people can assemble a 14×100 Classic in as few as two hours. The same page says there is no official wind rating because the house is designed to be movable. Haven copy names roll-up sides, metal baseboards, and a 10-year storm-damage parts discount. Crop height, whether you walk the beds upright, and whether the house stays put are the usual split. Full SKU notes stay on /caterpillar-vs-high-tunnel. No yield statistic is invented here.
- Is a Palram 6×8 polycarbonate house a high tunnel?
- No source opened tonight calls it one. The live Amazon PDP is a 6×8 walk-in hobby greenhouse (97×73×82 inches) with twin-wall polycarbonate and an aluminum frame, featured one-time $599.99. CPS 325 excludes greenhouses. A commercial high-tunnel kit on this site is a manufactured hoop house measured in tens of feet, usually 6-mil polyethylene. Compare kits on /kits and footprints on /high-tunnel-sizes.
- Can I cover a low tunnel from an Amazon frost blanket?
- Johnny's says to cover those EMT hoops with fabric row cover or plastic. The Agfabric 0.55 oz 5×25 (B01BU13PJK, $11.99) and 0.9 oz 6×50 (B08G1VWTPZ, $36.99) listings tonight are pack sizes, not a house takeoff. Snap clamps B08DXXJX9Y ($21.50) fit ¾-inch EMT. Measure the hoop arc. More film stays on /high-tunnel-plastic-replacement.
Tunnel Spec does not sell kits or write EQIP contracts. Published by Pool Party Capital, Inc. Not USDA. Rules vary; call your county NRCS office.