What's happening in the field?

At the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station

Shroom room upgrade underway

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As part of the new project “Evaluation of Satellite Mushroom Prefabricated Pod Production”, we are upgrading our existing Shroom Room where we raised mushrooms in 2019 and 2020 to have a more controlled environment. Bob Semyck of Willow Mountain Mushrooms designed the upgrade and he and his wife Wendy set up the portabella production cabinet on Friday, March 26, and installed the oyster production cabinet on Thursday, April 1. We will compare production in the Shroom Room to the new production pod that will be set up in the near future.

This project is funded by the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program and the USDA.

Bob and Wendy build the production unit for the portabella / baby bella mushrooms. These mushrooms do not require light to grow.
Bob and Wendy build the production cabinet for the Bella mushrooms. These mushrooms do not require light to grow. March 26.
This is what the unit section looks like. There are 4 sections per unit.
This is what a unit in the Bella cabinet looks like. Metal bars are the shelves for the boxes to sit on. There are 4 units in the cabinet. March 26.
Wendy points out that three of the boxes are already showing Bella mushrooms.
Wendy points out that three of the boxes are already showing Bella mushrooms. April 1.
Bob puts the boxes in unit No. 3 in the Bella cabinet.
Bob puts the boxes in unit No. 3 in the Bella cabinet. April 1.
The PVC vent tube distributes air via the fan. A damper will be installed to control the amount of outside air and recirculated air that is circulated.
The PVC vent tube distributes air via the fan. The PVC pipe in the back has holes angled to the back. A damper will be installed to control the amount of outside air and recirculated air that is circulated. April 1.
A close-up of the middle box of Bella mushrooms. April 1.
A close-up of the middle box of Bella mushrooms. April 1.
Bob and Wendy completed assembling the portabella unit on March 26. It looks great!!
Bob and Wendy completed assembling the portabella unit on March 26. It looks great!!
Bob and Wendy returned on April 1 to assemble the Oyster mushroom unit and to fill both units with mushrooms to grow.
Bob and Wendy returned on April 1 to assemble the Oyster mushroom cabinet and to fill some units in both cabinets with mushrooms to grow.
The humidifier is set up. The fog goes into the Oyster cabinet through the PVC pipe. Air is circulated out through a dryer hose at the top (not shown) from the room to the outside.
The humidifier is set up. The fog goes into the Oyster cabinet through the PVC pipe. Air is circulated out through a dryer hose at the top (not shown) from the room to the outside. April 1.
Bob installs the metal rods that the mushroom bags will sit on. Notice the dryer hose in the top left that is the vent to the outdoors.
Bob installs the metal rods that the mushroom bags will sit on. Notice the dryer hose in the top left that is the vent to the outdoors. April 1.
The inoculated bags of Pohu, Grey and Brown Oyster mushrooms are placed on the shelf unit.
The inoculated bags of Pohu, Gray, and Brown Oyster mushrooms are placed on shelf unit 3 in the cabinet. April 1.