Smith, David J.

Blowing and drifting snow adversely affect winter driving conditions and road infrastructure in Minnesota, often requiring removal methods costly to the state and environment. Living snow fences (LSFs)rows of trees, shrubs, grasses, or standing corn installed on fields upwind of roadwaysare economically viable solutions for controlling drifting snow in agricultural areas. Despite incentives and financial assistance by state and federal agencies, farmer adoption of LSFs is low, in part due to concerns about removing cropland from production. Of recent interest in Minnesota is the use of shrub-willows (Salix spp.) for LSFs, as they have been successfully implemented for LSFs in other states and are researched increasingly as a marketable biomass product for bioenergy production. To evaluate the potential of willow LSFs for multiple benefits in Minnesota, we established studies in Waseca, Minnesota, 1) to test different designs of willow LSFs in their ability to trap snow, 2) to compare the growth of willow varieties to willows native to Minnesota and other species traditionally used in LSFs, and 3) to assess the costs of planting and establishing a willow snow fence and the viability of biomass harvest. We found all shrubs to have generally high survival rates, with willows tending to have higher growth than traditional LSF shrubs. Additionally, willow LSFs may have the potential to trap all blowing snow at the study site as soon as three to four years after planting. This may provide earlier road protection than other shrub species traditionally used in LSFs. Regarding economics, willows can provide affordable LSFs relative to traditional LSF species, although harvesting for biomass may only be appropriate for very long transportation corridors.

Blowing and drifting snow on Minnesota's roadways are transportation efficiency and safety concerns. Establishing standing corn rows, living and structural snow fences or proper grading during road construction improves driver visibility and road surface conditions and has the potential to lower costs of road maintenance as well as crashes attributed to blowing and drifting snow. These snow control solutions can also provide environmental benefits including carbon sequestration and avoidance of carbon emissions of snow removal operations. In recent years, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has paid farmers to establish snow control practices to protect identified snow problem roadways. Using public funds to pay landowners to establish land practices, which benefit the public and reduce MnDOT winter costs, needs to be justified. In 2012, our research team created a Microsoft Excel cost-benefit-payment calculator to estimate payments to farmers that included consideration of safety and snow removal cost savings to the public and the transportation agency. We worked closely with MnDOT engineers and plow operators to estimate the safety and snow removal costs. This project translated the Microsoft Excel tool to a web-based tool that can be used on laptops, smartphones and tablets. Beta testing has been done with transportation officials to improve the web tool. Outreach plans are being conducted to inform transportation agencies of this tool and the cost benefit analysis it offers.

Blowing and drifting snow on Minnesota's roadways is a transportation efficiency and safety concern. Establishing standing corn rows and living snow fences improves driver visibility, road surface conditions, and has the potential to lower costs of road maintenance as well as accidents attributed to blowing and drifting snow. It also has the potential to sequester carbon and avoid the carbon emissions of snow removal operations. In recent years the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has paid farmers to leave standing corn rows to protect identified snow problem roadways. They have paid farmers $1.50 per bushel above market price. With increasing demand for corn to fuel the ethanol industry, paying $1.50 per bushel above market price may not be sufficient incentive for leaving standing corn rows. Also, with MnDOT's memorandum of understanding with USDA to plant living snow fences through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), now is an opportune time to review MnDOT's annual payment structure to farmers and prepare a new one. This project has: 1) developed a calculator to estimate payments for farmers that includes consideration of safety and snow removal cost savings; 2) estimated potential income from carbon payments; 3) worked closely with MnDOT engineers and plow operators, estimated the safety and snow removal costs and carbon emissions avoided by MnDOT through establishing living snow fences; and 4) evaluated farmers' willingness to establish living snow fences and identified farmers/landowners' constraints to adoption. Data is provided to MnDOT to assist staff in its decision making related to their Living Snow Fence Program.