Browsing by Author "Current, Dean"

Now showing 1 - 13 of 13
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    2008 Farm Bill Update: Conservation and Energy Programs
    (2009-01) Anderson, Greg; Flynn, Paul; Noty, Lisa; Current, Dean; Hachfeld, Gary; Nichols, Luke; Sackett, Jill; Wilsey, Dave; Wyatt, Gary; Zamora, Diomy
    The 2008 Farm Bill contains updated and new conservation programs to protect soil, water, air and wildlife resources while offering economic incentives for landowners and farmers. It also provides for additional energy programs which encourage landowner production and community development of bio-energy feedstocks and bio-industrial systems.
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    Assessing the Use of Shrub-Willows for Living Snow Fences in Minnesota
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2015-11) Zamora, Diomy S.; Ogdahl, Eric; Wyatt, Gary; Smith, David J.; Johnson, Gregg; Current, Dean; Gullickson, Dan
    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 roadways—are 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.
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    Economic and Environmental Costs and Benefits of Living Snow Fences: Safety, Mobility, and Transportation Authority Benefits, Farmer Costs, and Carbon Impacts
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2012-02) Wyatt, Gary; Zamora, Diomy; Smith, David; Schroeder, Sierra; Paudel, Dinesh; Knight, Joe; Kilberg, Don; Current, Dean; Gullickson, Dan; Taff, Steve
    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.
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    Expanding Landowner Adoption of Snow Control Measures Through a Better Understanding of Landowner Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2019-12) Current, Dean; Motschke, Collin; Serra, Airton Jr.; Wyatt, Gary; Zamora, Diomy
    Previous research demonstrated the ability of snow fences to significantly lower both public and private costs related to the control of blowing and drifting snow. Follow-up research specifically addressed the knowledge of MnDOT staff and attitudes and practices related to the promotion and implementation of snow control measures. These efforts identified a need for a better understanding of landowners' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to snow control measures to develop more effective outreach and foster the adoption of snow control measures. We identified four regions of the state with highway corridors with snow problems. In each region, we carried out listening sessions with landowners and MnDOT personnel, and based on those sessions while applying the KAP (knowledge, attitudes and practices) methodology, we designed a landowner survey to explore landowner knowledge, attitudes and practices related to snow problems and the willingness of landowners to implement snow fences to address the problems. The survey was carried out once prior to an outreach effort and then again after the outreach effort to measure any changes in landowner knowledge, attitudes and practices resulting from the effort. We found that landowners were generally not aware of MnDOT's program to address snow problems and were able to identify constraints to adoption as well as incentives that might be required to promote adoption. We also identified the most acceptable channels for outreach to landowners as well as ways to better structure the MnDOT program to address constraints identified by landowners and provide the assistance and incentives needed to promote greater adoption.
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    Expanding the Adoption on Private Lands: Blowing-and-Drifting Snow Control Treatments and the Cost Effectiveness of Permanent versus Non-Permanent Treatment Options
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2017-11) Current, Dean; Wyatt, Gary; Zamora, Diomy; Eckman, Karlyn; Butler, Megan; Carroll, Kate; Danielson, Michelle; Gullickson, Dan
    Previous research that estimated the costs and benefits of snow-fences for MnDOT in terms of a reduction in the costs of mitigating blowing-and-drifting snow problem areas (MN/RC 2012-03) demonstrated the ability of snow-fences to significantly lower those costs for MnDOT districts. To address lack of adoption, this project designed and tested an outreach program for MnDOT offices in one district and worked with MnDOT to prepare an outreach plan to promote greater adoption and cost savings in the remaining offices in the state. The overall goal is to reduce blowing, and drifting, snow problems and associated costs in the state through an effective outreach program to MnDOT district offices and through them, to landowners. The objectives of the project were to 1) carry out a pre-promotion KAP (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) survey; 2) implement a snow-fence promotion program; 3) carry out a post-promotion KAP study; 4); based on the KAP study, design an outreach plan to promote installation of snow-fences and the associated cost savings and 5) assess the market and non-market value of different permanent and non-permanent snow-fence designs.
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    The Potential for Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration in Minnesota: A Report to the Department of Natural Resources from the Minnesota Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration Initiative
    (University of Minnesota, 2008-02) Anderson, James L.; Beduhn, Rebecca A.; Current, Dean; Espeleta, Javier F.; Fissore, Cinzia; Gangeness, Bjorn; Harting, John; Hobbie, Sarah E.; Nater, Edward A.; Reich, Peter B.
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    Promoting the Adoption of Snow Fences through Landowner Engagement
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2022-05) Current, Dean; Read, Aidan; Serra Jr., Airton; Wyatt, Gary; Gullickson, Dan
    Snow and ice problems on Minnesota roadways represent a cost of close to $100 million annually to MnDOT in addition to the associated public safety and environmental costs. MnDOT and the University of Minnesota have collaborated to estimate the costs and benefits of snow control measures as well as the constraints that landowners face to adopt snow fences to control snow and ice problems. Benefits outweigh costs, often by a wide margin, but landowners are constrained by the lack of knowledge and the real and perceived inconvenience of installing, maintaining, and farming around a snow fence. Landowners think that the payments provided by MnDOT to install and maintain a snow fence are an important incentive but want more information about the issues involved with installing and maintaining a snow fence from a trusted source, a peer, or a testimonial. The project goal is to promote greater adoption of measures to address blowing and drifting snow problems through greater landowner and public engagement. To move toward that goal, we 1) carried out and prepared a minimum of 30 case studies of landowners who have implemented snow control measures; 2) entered the case studies into a computer and smartphone-based program that can be accessed by MnDOT and landowners; 3) revised and improved a MnDOT snow fence inventory to assist MnDOT in identifying and reporting on snow fences; and 4) developed curriculum and training materials for MnDOT personnel to prepare them for promoting snow control measures.
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    Riparian Buffer Science: Status and Research Needs
    (2016) Gordon, Brad; Lenhart, Chris; Lewandowski, Ann; Wyatt, Gary; Current, Dean
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    Silvopasture: Establishment and Management Principles for Minnesota
    (2017) Zamora, Diomy; Wyatt, Gary; Buttler, Megan; Ford, Maggie; Magner, Joe; Reichenbach, Mike; Burkett, Eleanor; Current, Dean; Walter, Dusty
    As an agroforestry practice, Silvopasture intentionally integrates livestock, forage production, and trees into an intensively managed system. The forage, trees, and livestock in silvopasture complement one another to increase productivity. The practice of silvopasture provides annual income from livestock (e.g., meat, dairy products) while fostering long-term economic benefits from trees including timber, fence posts, firewood, fruit, and nuts. This guidebook was created to increase awareness of silvopasture in Minnesota.
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    Sustainable Forest Feedstock for Bioenergy Production: Environmental, Economic, and Social Availability
    (2010) Becker, Dennis R.; Klapperich, Jon; Domke, Grant; Kilgore, Michael A.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Current, Dean; Ek, Alan R.
    Despite the potential for significant utilization in the production of bioenergy and biofuels, little is known of the economic, environmental, and social availability of forest biomass or the cumulative effects of increased demand. Past studies have estimated total physical biomass available without taking into account the range of constraints imposed by transportation distances, harvest costs, environmental laws, or site access. Supply estimates are further complicated by uncertainties about the willingness of private landowners to sell timber or thin forests for biomass. The result is a potential overestimation of supply that threatens the viability of new and existing businesses, and the sustainability of the forest resource. Study results are presented on the long-term physical availability of forest biomass across northern Minnesota and Wisconsin to compare to measures of environmental, economic, and social availability. Variations in management intensity are modeled to illustrate changes in volume under different sustainability thresholds and implications for increasing the use of biomass for bioenergy production in the Lake States.
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    Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration: A Survey of Policies and Programs
    (University of Minnesota. Water Resources Center, 2006) Miller, Cheryl; Current, Dean
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    Web-Based Preventative Blowing and Drifting Snow Control Calculator Decision Tool
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2015-05) Wyatt, Gary; Zamora, Diomy; Smith, David; Gullickson, Dan; Current, Dean
    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.
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    Web-Based Preventative Blowing and Drifting Snow Control Decision Tool
    (University of Minnesota Extension, 2015) Wyatt, Gary; Zamora, Diomy; Current, Dean; Smith, D; Gullickson, D; Mathison, A
    Blowing and drifting snow on Minnesota's roadways is a transportation efficiency and safety concern. Establishing standing corn rows, living and structural snow fences or proper grading during road construction improves driver visibility, 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 snow control practices, which benefit the public and reduce MnDOT winter operating costs, needs to be justified. In 2012, our snow fence research team created a Microsoft Excel cost benefit payment calculator to estimate payments for 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. Our 2014 project translated the Microsoft Excel tool to a web based tool that can be used on laptops, smart phones and tablets. Beta testing with transportation officials was used to improve the web tool. Outreach programs are being conducted to inform transportation agencies of this tool and the cost benefit analysis it offers. Initial outcomes include transportation authority cost savings and increased public safety. The tool web site: www.snowcontroltools.umn.edu