By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Recent wind gusts and cold temperatures pushed the windchill in Barton County below minus 20. Residents and farmers in the county have options to alleviate some of the problems caused by Kansas winds. Barton County Conservation District Manager Veronica Coons said calling the conservation office is a good place to start.
"There are a number of windbreaks that need some renovation, and there's probably a lot of people out there who would like to have a windbreak on their rural properties, especially after all the cold winds we've experienced," she said. "That's probably when people think about it the most."
The Barton County Conservation District has several programs available and also has an agreement with the Rush County office that is willing to send staff over to lend a helping hand.
"There's a fair amount of planning that's involved in getting a windbreak started," Coons said. "If it's something that's just being self-funded, we can help people get something together here as quickly as possible. Generally, if they're going to go through a state cost-share program or one of the farm bill programs to build a large one, it can take up to a year of planning."
Coons said now is the perfect time to contact her office for assistance or to learn what is involved with planting a windbreak, from land preparation to having the Kansas Forest Service come out and advise which types of trees to plant and how to space them. Contact the Barton County Conservation District by calling (620) 792-3346.