[Title: Multifunctional Windbreaks: Success Stories]
Narrator: Windbreaks in Ontario agriculture offer well-planned
crop protection against wind and spray drift
damage among other benefits. Menno Peters believes in the positive effects of windbreaks.
Meno Peters, Market Hogs, Perth East: We planted white spruce, and poplars next to our yard on the west side of our yard by
our barn as a snow fence and a wind break for the yard.
We put them in plastic mulch, which we really liked. We learned that having a good cultivation
for the plastic mulch was really important.
And it keeps the weeds down and it looks really good.
Narrator: Planting along fence lines will usually involve a conversation with those whose land
abuts the windbreak.
Meno Peters: We talked with our neighbours. They were really all for it. We got some funding
from the Environmental Farm Plan. So that helped. So they didn't have to think about
it very long. They were happy to do it.
Narrator: Moving into East Zorra-Tavistock in Oxford County,
Ross Campell planted windbreaks on his farm in 2006 as a strategy to comply with organic
farming requirements.
Ross Campbell Organic Farm, East Zorra-Tavistock: I have to have at least the 25 foot buffers put up on the side of
the farm. So trees fit very good in that. The other thing is that over the years I'd
heard it was a wonderful thing for soil erosion and moisture retention and general health
of the environment.
Narrator: As you can imagine, there is a bit of maintenance related to windbreaks
to ensure their overall health, growth and protection qualities.
Ross Campbell: I know we've kind
of kept the grass cut for the first number of years, very religiously beside the plastic.
The plastic trapped the moisture, it didn't get away; Maybe it trapped a little heat too
which probably was good for the roots. And we've continued to keep it cut. I know too
that there's a number of double leaders here
that should be taken out.
Narrator: The local conservation
authority has played a key role in advising, planning and planting Bob Taylor's windbreaks
on his 400 acre farm.
Bob Taylor, Cash Crop, Zorra Township: The windbreak was planted in 1982. And it is composed of a row of Norway.
Spruce and a row of White Cedar. We have already gone through and thinned them out once and
these trees have grown very well. And we're anticipating further thinning somewhere down
the line.
Narrator: Taylor is thrilled with the benefits to his yield of corn fields from having planted
windbreaks.
Bob Taylor: I think it has been a success certainly in ways that I hadn't anticipated.
It has given us shade from the winds that blast away at us in the wintertime. It's
given a place for birds to nest in. It has increased crop yields due to the windbreak
effect.
Narrator: Taylor has planted 4,500 trees and he says he has learned an important thing
or two that he would do differently.
Bob Taylor: First of all I wouldn't plant two rows. Because
land has gotten so expensive at 18-thousand dollars an acre. You can't afford to take
up too much land. Secondly we definitely want two species ' the cedars which will remain
close to the ground, and the spruce which will grow up above. I would plant them one
row.
Narrator: Multifunctional windbreaks offer farmers other revenue-generating
opportunities.
Doug Cassie, Maple Products and Cash Crops, Elora: Along
the road here, are a mixture of maple trees, and we've taken advantage of the maple trees
and we tap them every spring and that's a source of our sap for our maple syrup production.
Todd Leuty, Agro-Forestry Specialist OMAFRA: The multifunctional part of windbreaks - most of the ideas I've seen have come from farmers
themselves. There's farmers now tapping walnut trees that are growing in fence rows
because walnut trees can make a nice syrup too.
Narrator: Incorporating windbreaks in your farm
operation is a process that yields numerous benefits. Careful planning is needed to be
successful.
Ross Campbell: I'm happy with it so far. I think it makes a good buffer and I like it.
Meno Peters,:We like the windbreaks on
our farm and we'd do it again.
Bob Taylor: And I wouldn't give these trees up for all the money in the world.
Narrator: For more information on planting and the benefits of
windbreaks, please contact your local Conservation Authority or go to: Ontario.ca/agbestpractices.