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WINDBREAK ECONOMICS. June C Grabemeyer Ag Economist 2003. Benefits to Livestock. Maintenance of body score condition with less feed Rate of Gain - relationship of pound of gain per pound of feed fed. Homestead. Energy Savings for Heating
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WINDBREAK ECONOMICS June C Grabemeyer Ag Economist 2003
Benefits to Livestock • Maintenance of body score condition with less feed • Rate of Gain - relationship of pound of gain per pound of feed fed
Homestead • Energy Savings for Heating • Living snow fence - labor and time to clear driveways
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Cost • Total average annual cost = • average annual installation • average annual production losses • average annual maintenance
Cost Cost includes maintenance, repair and replacement
Benefit • Increase quality or yield on protected crop or livestock production: Impact is increase in net income • Non-Money: views, wildlife, etc.