When the wind blows across the open prairie, there’s little to stop the snow before it hits our ditches and roadways. In Minnesota, the DOT is working with farmers to leave living snow fences of corn, native grasses, wildflowers, and trees and shrubs. The flora catches and helps control the snow before it hits the roadways.
The DOT is focusing the program on the problem areas, and the farmers get compensated for reprogramming their land. And in the case of corn, the harvest can be taken if it’s done by hand. It’s a great example of a two-for-one government program.
And it’s worth asking, could a program like this be used in town? There are always problem areas that continually blow in and create drifting.
