Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program
With fewer fence rows, less woodlots and fall plowing, Ohio farms lose more and more soil due to wind erosion. The Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program is a turnkey tree planting program in which participating landowners receive a complete service from the design of a windbreak to the planting of the trees.
This inter-agency effort began in 1977 with the objective to get field windbreaks planted in Northwest Ohio to reduce soil erosion, protect crops from wind damage and enhance wildlife habitat. Since the program's beginning in 1977, more than 1,500 windbreaks have been planted, covering more than 6.4 million row feet or 1,200 row miles.
 Cooperating Agencies and organizations include: local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) in 17 northwest Ohio counties, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Divisions of Forestry, Soil & Water, and Wildlife, and Pheasants Forever. An inter-agency committee made up of the above groups meets at least twice a year to discuss the program and make changes in the operating procedures (pdf) where necessary.
The first step for landowners interested in having a windbreak planted on their farm, is to contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District office during the Summer, Fall or Winter prior to the planting season. The SWCD or NRCS personnel plan and help the landowner design the windbreak. This includes explaining the requirements of the program, preparing maps of the windbreaks location, helping the landowner select the proper tree and shrub species to plant based on soil type, and explain any site preparation that might be necessary on the landowners part. The county Soil and Water Conservation District also stakes the location of the windbreak in the field prior to the Spring planting.
Windbreaks planted through the Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program must be at least 1,000 row feet in total length, and be protecting agricultural land. Landowners can have from one to six rows of trees and shrubs planted through the program.
Because of the various soil types and landowner interests, there are 10 - 13 species available each year that landowners can have planted, including: arborvitae, eastern red cedar, Norway spruce, Austrian pine, eastern white pine, baldcypress, black chokeberry, American plum, silky dogwood, pin oak, Sargent crabapple, and red-osier dogwood. Farmers that want wind protection for their fields without having to give up much crop ground will generally plant a single row of arborvitae. Landowners wanting to improve wildlife habitat on their farms may have a multiple row windbreak planted with a variety of species.
Obtaining the planting stock and planting the windbreaks is the responsibility of the Ohio Division of Forestry.
In February, the seedlings are shipped to Maumee State Forest in northwest Ohio where they are placed in a controlled cooler unit. When planting conditions are right, the seedlings are transported to the windbreak sites and planted in the rows previously staked by the local Soil and Water Conservation District. Each windbreak receives two applications of a pre-emergent herbicide: once in the Spring when the seedlings are planted, and the second in late Fall when a survival count is done.
A survival guarantee for each windbreak planted is a unique feature of the Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program. If the survival of the windbreak after the first growing season falls below 75%, the planting crew will return to the site and replant the dead seedlings. If the survival of the windbreak is 75% or greater, the landowner will be offered seedlings from the Division of Forestry to replace those that have died. In effect, the guarantee ensures the landowner will have a full windbreak going into the second growing season. From then on, it is the landowners responsibility to maintain the windbreak through weed and grass control, protecting the windbreak from wildlife damage and replacing dead seedlings.
The cost to landowners for the seedlings, planting, two herbicide applications and survival guarantee is $0.30/row foot. Eligible landowners may receive cost-share assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency.
Spring 2009 marked the 33rd planting season for the Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program. A total of 21 windbreaks were planted in 9 counties. Laid end to end the windbreaks would cover 247,216 row feet, or roughly 46.8 row miles. Over 23,000 seedlings from 14 different species were planted in 2009. Six conifer species made up approximately 60% of the seedlings planted, while 8 hardwood and shrub species accounted for 40%.
The Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) continues to be a key factor in the success of the program.
Also check out the recently published Ohio Windbreak Guide (pdf) for additional information on windbreak design, maintenance, planting, and species selection.
For more information on the Northwest Ohio Field Windbreak Program email or call Gregg Maxfield, Ohio Division of Forestry at (419) 424-5004.
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