EC94-1772 Windbreaks in Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Sustainable agriculture is a system of whole-farm resource use balanced with whole-farm productivity. The overall level of productivity achieved is dependent upon the ability to coordinate and manage simultaneously the soil, water, plant, and animal resources within climatic and economic limits. Both the kind and amount of plants and animals supported by the system are important and play significant roles, both individually and collectively in maintaining a healthy farm environment. In the future, integrated systems will help reduce human impact on resources while providing sufficient supplies of high quality food and fiber. Windbreaks provide protection for people, animals, buildings, crops, and natural resources. They reduce soil erosion by wind and contribute to the control of runoff from agricultural lands. Individually, trees and shrubs can provide food and shelter for wildlife or be harvested for timber and fuelwood. Specialized tree crops, such as fruits or nuts can be harvested from windbreaks providing additional economic returns