Applicants Sought For 'Living Snow Fence Program'

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — McHenry County is seeking applications for the 2024 to 2025 Living Snow Fence Program.

The Living Snow Fence Program partners with local farmers to reduce snow drifts along county highways by using natural barriers, such as standing corn rows, and/or natural vegetative barrier such as Sweet sorghum, hay bales and silage bags, to improve winter road safety, according to a news release from McHenry County.

Farmers participating in the program can earn up to $2,000 per acre of corn row and/or natural vegetative barrier. Participating farmers help keep our county highways clear in winter by planting rows of corn, or placing natural vegatative barriers, at the edge of their fields, to catch snow before it can blow onto the road, according to the news release.

A typical corn-row snow fence is 1,100 feet long and 16 rows wide, covering an average of 1 acre of land. Participating farmers keep the barriers up from Dec. 1 to March 1, after which they can remove the barrier or harvest the corn and/or crop.

Participants are recognized via signage, customized with the farmer’s name, which are made at the Division of Transportation sign shop. The Living Snow Fence Program helps to reduce late-night callouts for snowplow driver.

Fewer callouts for snowplows means reduced maintenance costs and safer roads for travelers. You can learn more about the Living Snow Fence program on the McHenry County website.