Over 12,000 trees are ready to be planted on farms in Wellington North this spring. The trees will stretch about 10 kilometres in windbreaks, along creeks and on marginal land.
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) worked with Wellington North landowners to plant 6,500 trees in 2013.
“We’re seeing an increase in tree planting numbers over last year despite continued high land and crop prices,” said Mark Funk, GRCA forestry specialist.
Landowners in Wellington North have planted over 150,000 trees in the past 16 years. Many of these were planted with the goal of slowing wind erosion and improving water quality in creeks and ditches.
“The environmental benefits are significant, but the economic benefits don’t get enough attention,” said Funk.
“Research from the northern U.S. and Canada has shown that windbreaks can reduce the energy use of a typical farmstead by 10 to 20 per cent, improve livestock health and increase overall crop yields.”
When asked about the lack of field windbreaks in some areas, one Kenilworth farmer remarked: “If you look at a lot of the fields around here, there’s nothing there. People talk about soil erosion and then they go and take out all the fencerows.”
GRCA forestry specialists are available to help farmers select trees that will provide maximum benefit for their property, source the trees and hire planting contractors.
“We know which trees are less likely to clog tiles with their roots, which ones will manage the wind best, and which ones are appropriate for specific soils and drainage,” said Funk.
Grant money is available through the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program to assist with tree planting and other water quality improvement projects. For more information contact GRCA staff at 519-621-2761 or ruralwater@grandriver.ca.
