Economics of Windbreaks Leah Moore USDA-NRCS Agricultural Economist
Objectives • Benefits to: – Crop Production – Livestock – Wildlife – Rural Living – Snow Management • Establishment and Maintenance Costs • Examples
Benefits of Windbreaks • Benefits of windbreaks are not always easy to assess. • For all practical purposes, use the range of estimated “change” attributable to windbreaks. • Qualitative versus Quantitative
Crop Production - Benefits • Higher product quality • Increased crop yields over the entire field • Reduced irrigation needs • Less soil loss from wind erosion • Protects from frost damage
Often crop yields are lowest next to a windbreak…the greatest gains are out a few more rods.
For example…
Field Windbreaks – Estimated “Change” % Change Notes Crop Production (yield) +6% to +44% Wind Erosion (tons/ac/year soil loss) -50% to -100% Wind velocity dependent Snow Distribution (cm dph w/in 20 H) >+50% Highly variable Irrigation (in or mm/day or gr. sea. ) -3% to -22% Based on sprinkler drop size
Average, Net Yield Increases of Common Grain and Oilseed Crops in Response to Shelter Crop Spring Wheat Winter Wheat Barley Oats Rye Millet Corn Soybeans Yield Increase (%) 6% to 10% 20% to 25% 23% to 25% 5% to 7% 18% to 20% 40% to 45% 10% to 15% 12% to 17%
Livestock - Benefits • Better livestock protection, production, and survival • Feed savings • Increased weight gain • Feed is not blown away • Decreased problems with flies
Livestock – Estimated “Change” % Change Notes Feed – Feedlot and Open Range ($) -10% to -30% Variable by Climate Livestock Mortality (Number of Animals) -? Variable by Operation
Animal Wind Chill Chart
Wildlife - Benefits • Improved game and non-game fish and wildlife habitat • Increased hunting opportunities • Cover and nesting areas for upland game and songbirds • Benefit of “just knowing they exist”
Rural Living - Benefits • Increased property values • Lower farmstead heating and cooling bills • Less blowing snow, dust, and odors, and reduction in noise • Protects yards, machinery, etc. • Protects buildings during high winds • Enhances accessibility by control of snow/ice
Farmstead Windbreaks – Estimated “Changes” % Change Notes Energy Consumption (e. g. , k. Wh) -10% to -40% Variable by Region Snow Removal ($ of labor) -? Variable by Individual Working Conditions ($ of labor) -? Variable by Individual Equipment Maintenance/Replacement ($) -? Variable by Operation Structure Maintenance ($) -? Variable by Operation Road Dust ($ - Accident Frequency) -? Variable by Locality Property Value ($) +6% to +12% Variable by Region Noise Level (decibels, d. BA) -10% to -20% Dependent on Barrier
Wind Chill Index
Snow Management - Benefits • Reduced ditch cleaning and snow removal costs • Better ability to “harvest” water through improved snow management • Less ice accumulation • Serves as snow fences
Living Snow Fence – Estimated “Changes” % Change Notes Snow Removal ($ of Labor) -? Variable Traffic Flow ($/mi fuel, oil, etc. ) -? Variable
Other Benefits • Diversified source of income and less risk • Profits from valuable specialty crop and forest products • Improved financial returns from on-farm value-added activities • Improved water quality • Greater biological and aesthetic diversity • Increased recreational opportunities • Provides picnic and social areas
Economic Costs • Costs vary in time and place • Costly to establish and to maintain and renovate • Becoming less effective at sheltering crops and controlling moisture because older windbreaks are losing trees that are not being replaced
Crop Production – Economic Costs • Damage from herbicide drift • Shelters harmful insects • Map sap moisture from crops • Interferes with irrigation • Lower production near shelterbelt • Loss of crop acres
Livestock – Economic Costs • Impedes air circulation in summer
Rural Living – Economic Costs • Blocks the view
Other – Costs • Restricts farm arrangement • Establishment takes time, etc. • Maintenance costs
Cost of Establishment • Cost of site preparation • Cost to buy plant materials • Cost of planting • Cost of weed control • Cost of fencing • Cost of irrigation
Cost of Maintenance • Cost of weed control • Cost of replanting • Cost of pruning • Cost of thinning
Land Costs • Taxes • Rental • Utility assessments
Cost of Renovation • Cost of clearing away the old rows of trees • Cost of planting new trees • Cost of maintaining the new windbreak • Opportunity cost of the land on which the windbreak is located.
The End Any Questions?
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