Shelterbelts on the Prairies

Thursday, October 23, 2025

Preserving Tradition in Modern Farming

By Paige Fehr

Shelterbelts are a common, albeit dwindling, sight on the Prairie landscape. These living barriers comprise rows of trees or shrubs planted alongside farm fields or yards to protect against wind, snow, and especially soil erosion. They are also used to beautify and protect the home and farmyard, providing a place of refuge for farm families on the plains for generations.

Over time, trends have shifted from many farmers planting shelterbelts to many removing them. However, with rising interest in conservation farming practices, shelterbelts may be making a widespread return to Prairie agriculture.

A tradition of trees

Over the last several decades, trends in trees have changed on the Prairies.

Extreme drought conditions in years past, most notably in the 1930s and 1960s, shook up the agricultural industry and encouraged settler farmers to reevaluate their farming practices.

In response, shelterbelts came into vogue on the Canadian Prairies in the late 1930s, predominantly motivated by the significant soil erosion experienced during the Dust Bowl.

William (Bill) Schroeder, author of the book Trees Against the Wind: The Birth of Prairie Shelterbelts, says, “The main functions expected from trees in fields were protecting the soil and trapping blowing snow. Their ecological value was and is not widely understood or accepted.”

Shroeder spent much of his career working at the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) Shelterbelt Centre in Indian Head, Sask. The research station began operations in 1901 under The Co-Operative Tree Planting Program before becoming the PFRA Shelterbelt Centre in 1935. Unfortunately, the site closed its doors in 2013, and the initiatives under the PFRA program have since been dispersed or dismantled.

Shroeder explains that shelterbelt planting is on the decline, and shelterbelt removal has become common practice.

“Today, few shelterbelts are being planted in fields as the perception exists that trees are not needed there and in fact create more problems than they’re worth.

“Changes in land tenure and farm size, as well as the drive for efficiency and profitability, have dulled the recognition that shelterbelts are important.”

Today, many grain growers are removing shelterbelts in the name of efficiency. Large farm equipment can make it difficult to navigate around tree rows or bushes in the field. Additionally, increasing land costs and ever-slimming profit margins mean that farmers want to make the most of the land they have. Thus, removing tree rows can allow for not only improved efficiency, but also some additional arable land.

Many farmers believe that common conservation farming practices widely used on the Prairies, such as minimal tillage and air seeding, both of which help to reduce soil erosion by maintaining crop stubble, offer modern solutions that meet the needs previously met by shelterbelts.

However, Shroeder points out that “direct-seeding technology has led many in the farm community to conclude they can manage soil erosion without the use of shelterbelts. But what if there is no residue? The soil will blow.

“The onset of another drought cycle like the late 1980s, early ‘60s or 1930s is highly probable.”

And indeed, many regions across the Prairies experienced below-average precipitation during the last several years – a bleak reminder of droughts of the past. During these extended periods of low rainfall, when crop stands are poor, the residue left behind to armour the soil can be minimal. Because of this, the risk of topsoil blowing away increases during times of drought.

Benefits of shelterbelts

While the risk of soil erosion has arguably lessened with the rise of conservation farming practices, including no-till, shelterbelts continue to serve several important purposes on our Prairie landscapes.

These living barriers provide ecosystem services, including habitat for wildlife and pollinators, shade and protection for livestock, soil water retention, riparian protection, reducing snow drifts in the winter, and the simple fact of landscape beautification – an ode to the way our ancestors did things.

Tree rows around the home provide wind and snow breaks, shade, and can help to mitigate dust and odours from the nearby farm work. Furthermore, they transform the farmyard into a comfortable, protected place to call home.

Carbon storage

Aside from the aesthetic appeal, shelterbelts also store enormous amounts of carbon long-term. The actual amount of sequestered carbon is dependent on factors including tree species, management, and growing conditions.

A 2017 study of Saskatchewan agroforestry found that shelterbelts stored, on average, 2,000 kg more carbon per hectare compared to the surrounding cropland. When it comes to balancing emissions in agriculture, shelterbelts can offer a means to reduce the overall carbon footprint.

As carbon markets evolve, farmers may see future opportunities to be paid for the carbon stored in their trees. However, this appears to be a long way off in Western Canada. According to Brenda Tjaden, a market analyst and environmentalist who specializes in agricultural policy, current carbon recognition programs offer very low payouts to farmers and are, in Tjaden’s view, not worth the effort and time required to apply.

For now, the driving force in planting and maintaining shelterbelts must not lie in the expectation of a hefty carbon payout, but rather in the understanding of the multitude of other benefits: A homey farmyard, protection from the elements, and a myriad of ecosystem services.

Where to access trees

Prairie farmers looking to establish shelterbelts on their land have no shortage of options when it comes to accessing tree stock.

In Saskatchewan, farmers can apply for a limited quantity of free tree seedlings through SaskPower each year. Applications for spring 2026 opened on Aug. 1, 2025.

Low-cost seedlings are also available through the Saskatchewan Tree for Life program, which is managed by the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds.

The HELP International Shelterbelt Centre, based in Weyburn, Sask., offers low-cost trees and ships broadly, including outside the province. The Prairie Shelterbelt Program based in Alberta also ships Canada-wide, as does TreeTime, another Alberta business that sells both seedlings and more mature trees.

Government funding for shelterbelt establishment is also available through the Resilient Agriculture Landscape Program (RALP) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP).

This program targets several endeavours related to promoting best management practices (BMPs), including the establishment of shelterbelts under the Agroforestry BMP. Growers are encouraged to contact their provincial agricultural representatives for details on available funding and application intake cycles.

While Prairie farming often leans toward efficiency, shelterbelts remain a proven tool that could be worth keeping.

They protect soil and crops, soften the impact of harsh weather, and add a sense of place to the farmyard. In an era of shifting climate and stronger storms, those rows of trees planted by previous generations may turn out to be just as vital to tomorrow’s agriculture as they were in the past. BF