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Windbreak Economics: Maximizing Livestock and Crop Benefits

This study by C. Grabemeyer in June 2003 delves into the economic advantages of windbreaks, emphasizing enhanced livestock conditions, improved crop yields, reduced wind damage, and cost analysis. The methodology employed includes field observations and calculations to estimate the benefits against installation and maintenance costs. Discover how windbreaks impact livestock maintenance, field crops, and homestead energy savings.

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Windbreak Economics: Maximizing Livestock and Crop Benefits

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  1. WINDBREAK ECONOMICS June C Grabemeyer Ag Economist 2003

  2. Benefits to Livestock • Maintenance of body score condition with less feed • Rate of Gain - relationship of pound of gain per pound of feed fed

  3. Homestead • Energy Savings for Heating • Living snow fence - labor and time to clear driveways

  4. Field Crops • Improved Yields on where crops protected from wind • Improved Quality of “pack out” - less wind damage, bruised fruit or vegetables • Snow deposits for improved soil moisture management increases yields

  5. Methodology • Walked field with group about 2 rods apart and counted @ every 10th step by looking at 1’x1’ area by right foot and count the candy canes. • Number of acres in field x 43,560 = sq. ft. in field. Number observations divided by sq. ft. in field x 100 = percent of field we looked at.

  6. Methodology • Counted the number of stalks in 1# bundles and counted up 30 bundles. Averaged to get the number of stalks per pound. • Candy canes in field count divided by stalks per pound to get number of pounds left in the field.

  7. Methodology • Pounds in field divided by decimal of field observed = Estimated total pounds of wind damaged crop. • Walked field after three pickings and did counts. Averaged the three counts. • Average damaged pounds per picking x number of pickings x price = total losses to wind damage for a season.

  8. Methodology • Calculate value of wind damaged crop compared to value of production lost on acres needed for the windbreak. • Can do a reasonable % of damage reduction if not claim 100% fix.

  9. Cost of Windbreak • Loss of production on acres used for the windbreak • Cost to install - use component cost data for cost estimate. Cost to install X factor for useful life and discount rate to get average annual installation costs • Cost for annual expected care / maintenance

  10. Cost • Total average annual cost = • average annual installation • average annual production losses • average annual maintenance

  11. Cost Cost includes maintenance, repair and replacement

  12. Benefit • Increase quality or yield on protected crop or livestock production: Impact is increase in net income • Non-Money: views, wildlife, etc.

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