Windbreaks are an integral part of area farms and acreages providing critical protection for farmsteads, livestock, and crops. Unfortunately, many older windbreaks are losing their effectiveness due to age, poor health, or neglect. In some cases, a windbreak may no longer have the necessary density to provide winter protection.

Learn what to do about an old or new windbreak on your property this February when Nebraska Extension, the Nebraska Forest Service, and the Lower Big Blue Natural Resource District team up to bring landowners the latest information on renovating windbreaks and caring for trees and shrubs.

The keynote speaker will be Steve Karloff, a forester who has made tree plans for many landowners in southeast Nebraska.   

The program will be held in two locations:

• Saline Center — Tuesday, February 14, at Saline Center north of Western in Saline County along Highway 15
• Beatrice —  Friday, February 17, at the Gage County Extension Office.

Both programs will be held from 9 a.m. until noon with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. Refreshments will be provided.

The seminar will cover

• renovating old and damaged windbreaks,
• planting new windbreaks,
• NRD programs and cost share availability,
• tree health issues including tree recommendations,
• an ash borer update, and
• information on newly available root-maker trees.

Information and Registration

Pre-registration for either event is required by February 10.

Please register with either the Gage County Extension Office at 402-223-1384 or the Saline County Extension Office at 402-821-2151. In the case of inclement weather, please check with either Extension Office or alerts on KWBE or KUTT radio stations.  

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Nebraska Extension Educator Nicole Stoner at Gage County Extension (402) 223-1384 or by email at nstoner2@unl.edu or contact Nebraska Extension Educator Randy Pryor at Saline County Extension at 402-821-2151 or by email at randy.pryor@unl.edu.

Related Resources

Nebraska Extension in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service published a series of free windbreak resources on the Nebraska Extension Marketplace site. From "How Windbreaks Work" to "Windbreak Establishment," "Field Windbreaks," and "Windbreak Renovation," they are handy resources to reference after these February programs.