The data has been out for a while on windbreaks but sometimes reminders are needed.
Windbreaks can increase crop yields up to 15 per cent, more than making up for the amount of land they use.
In a recent Heartland crop article, which drew upon University of Guelph Ridgetown data, it was noted that windbreaks improve a field’s micro-climate by reducing wind speeds, increasing the temperature and reducing the amount of moisture loss.
Some other benefits are earlier germination, reducing soil erosion (watch the colour of the snow in the ditch this winter), decreasing odour and spray drift, reducing heating and energy costs, helping with climate change, sheltering outside livestock, providing habitat for wildlife, etc.
The Trees for Mapleton Committee wants to help land owners and farmers plant more windbreaks. If farmers apply to Rural Water Quality Program and meet the criteria for windbreaks (funded by Wellington County and administered by the GRCA) and get the 80% funding for the windbreak project, then the local Trees for Mapleton committee has funds to contribute to the 20% that would cover the plastic mulch that could be used in preparing the seed bed for the trees. Using plastic mulch is not always practical, but where it can be used, trees get off to a better start and do not have to compete with weeds. The farmer would have to pay the HST for the plastic mulch if it was part of the project.
Technical advice is available from the GRCA and officials say forester Joseph Heeg is great to work with and knowledgeable about the right tree species and how to go about getting a windbreak in.
There are limited funds but the Trees for Mapleton committee wants to let farmers and land owners know about this opportunity to have more of the cost covered. The time is now to plant windbreaks. Call Heeg at 519-621-2763 ext. 2259 or email him atjheeg@grandriver.ca for information.
Each year landowners will see the benefits of planting windbreaks as they grow.
Anyone interested in being a part of the Trees for Mapleton committee or wanting to give input or suggestions is encouraged to call Bruce Whale at 519-748-7928.
Submitted by Liz Samis
