ODNR Division of Forestry NW OH Windbreak Program

2010 WINDBREAK PLANTING SEASON SUMMARY

24 new windbreaks were planted in eight counties totaling 204,374 row feet (38.7 miles), covering approximately 97 acres.

County # WB’s Row Feet Acres
Erie 1 13,175 5.6
Hancock 2 28,390 15.4
Henry 1 6,108 3.1
Ottawa 5 29,735 13.9
Paulding 2 23,250 11.1
Seneca 7 41,044 18.6
Van Wert 1 13,204 5
Wood 5 49,468 24.1
Total 24 204,374 96.8

21,155 seedlings were used to plant new windbreaks:

  • 9,268 conifers (46%)
  • 11,527 hardwoods & shrubs (54%)
  • Approximately 3,450 seedlings were use for windbreak replacements.  There were no windbreak replants from 2009.
  • 9 planting days  were needed from March 24 through April 20.
  • Two planting crews were used with Division of Forestry personnel.
  • Precipitation at Maumee State Forest:  February 2.06 inches, March 1.90 inches, and April 4.73 inches.
  • First year that seedlings were purchased from outside nursery.
  • First year using Oust XP herbicide on windbreaks.

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 Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program is an inter-agency effort that 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 6.6 million row feet or 1,260 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.
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 have from one to six rows of trees and shrubs planted through the program.
Spring 2010 marked the 34th planting season for the Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program.  A total of 24 windbreaks were planted in 8 counties. Laid end to end the windbreaks would cover 204,374 row feet or roughly 38.7 row miles. Over 21,000 seedlings from 11 different species were planted in 2010. Six conifer species made up approximately 46% of the seedlings planted, while 5 hardwood and shrub species accounted for 54%.
With the closing of Ohio’s Marietta nursery, spring 2010 was the first year that seedlings used for the NW Ohio Windbreak program were purchased from an outside source.
Ohio is seeking third party certification of its state forests, therefore the herbicide used in conjunction with the windbreak plantings was changed from Princep (simazine) to Oust XP (Sulfometuron methyl).



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.