Haygrove & Ostara: Polytunnel Automation Performance Trial
How automated vent control improved temperature stability by 25% and saved 60+ labour hours per month.
25%
More time within target temperature range
11%
Average seasonal improvement in temperature control
60 Hours
Labour saved per month
£1,200
Average monthly labour cost saving
Leading polytunnel manufacturer and berry grower Haygrove partnered with Ostara to evaluate the real-world impact of intelligent tunnel automation. The results show measurable gains in climate stability, labour efficiency and operational confidence.
The Challenge: Maintaining Optimal Conditions at Scale
Managing temperature and ventilation in commercial polytunnels requires constant attention. Manual venting systems can struggle to maintain consistent environmental ranges — particularly during volatile weather conditions.
Haygrove wanted to assess whether automated vent control could:
- Maintain target temperature ranges more consistently
- Reduce manual labour input
- Improve overall growing efficiency
- Deliver measurable operational savings
Results: Labour Saving & Cost Impact
Results: Labour Saving & Cost Impact
Ostara allows growers to set rain and wind thresholds that override standard algorithms and automatically close vents when required.
This significantly reduced the need for manual intervention.
Monthly Averages:
- 120 automatic vent closures due to rain and wind
- Approximately 60 labour hours saved
- Approx. £1,200 saved in labour costs per month
Over a full growing season, this represents substantial operational savings while freeing skilled labour for higher-value tasks.
What This Means for Commercial Growers
The Haygrove trial demonstrates that intelligent automation delivers measurable performance gains — not just convenience.
With increasing weather volatility and labour shortages, polytunnel automation enables growers to:
- Extend time within optimal growing conditions
- Reduce reliance on manual monitoring
- Protect yield quality
- Improve operational margins
- Increase confidence in day-to-day climate management
Automation transforms reactive farming into proactive environmental control.
Ready to See What Automation Could Do for Your Farm?
Book a demo to explore how Ostara can integrate with your existing polytunnel setup and help you achieve measurable performance improvements.