Minnesota Will Pay Farmers to Leave Corn Stalks as Windbreak

The state Department of Transportation says stalks can break the wind’s force and limit snow from blowing onto roads.

ea375ce6100f4ed5942ad707c3b219b01.jpg
ea375ce6100f4ed5942ad707c3b219b01.jpg
(Farm Journal)

Minnesota officials are offering to pay farmers who leave corn stalks standing along highways this winter to help keep snow from drifting.

The state Department of Transportation says stalks can break the wind’s force and limit snow from blowing onto roads. Farmers can earn money on a per-acre basis if they leave six to 20 rows of corn stalks standing.

The department is especially looking for farmers with fields to the north and west of highways where snow drifting often causes problem. Farmers make a one-season commitment from October until mid-April.

AgWeb-Logo crop
Related Stories
Both classes of winter wheat ended limit up on the day as USDA shocked the market with their aggressive production cuts in the May WASDE according to Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist, StoneX.
Agronomist Phil Long explains the critical gap between air and soil temperatures and why the “heat engine” for corn and soybeans has stalled in some areas.
“I’m just a farmer in their way,” says Georgia producer Jeff Melin. “Force me to sell, take my land, and fly in the billionaires and big companies.”
Read Next
Three potentially market-moving events will test the resilience of the spring grain rally, offering a clearer direction for the new crop year’s market fundamentals.
Get News Daily
Get Market Alerts
Get News & Markets App