FAQs

How do we best get in contact with Shelterbelt Solutions?
Fill out the response form on this website.

Call 701-202-5000 to reach our project coordinator.

You will find us exhibiting at many of the area ag shows. Stop and visit.

What is your response time for a project?
We try to get out to look at a prospective project as soon as possible, within a few days. Scheduling the work is always a challenge. If there is urgency for the project to be completed we can accommodate that.

What is your service area?
Our service area includes all of North Dakota.  There is plenty of need for our service here without crossing state lines.

Why are farmers taking out shelterbelts?
Some of the reasons are quite obvious. The trees are a poor variety such as Chinese Elm and they are dying and falling down. In Central and Western North Dakota farming has changed. With the advent of no-till and minimum-till there is not the need for trees to prevent wind erosion. Farmers have found better ways to prevent wind erosion than cluttering our wide-open spaces with unsightly trees of a variety that don’t belong here. With today’s large equipment some tree rows are a nuisance and an expense to farm around. Overlaps of seeding, spraying and harvesting costs money.

Where irrigation is possible many times there are shelterbelts that need to be removed so pivot systems can function.

Can you remove small trees or bushes?
Yes, the tree xtrakter skid steer attachment is very efficient in removing small trees such as volunteer Chinese Elm and bushes such as Caragana in a project.

There are a lot of stumps in my row of Chinese Elm.
The tree xtrakter attachment takes out stumps with ease.

Does your process leave many roots in the ground?
No.  Shallow roots are removed. 

What do you suggest after a shelterbelt is removed?
Disc it lightly, you may turn up a few sticks or roots that should be gathered. If there is enough dead wood in the pile, burn it when conditions are safe and bury immediately, usually same day. Remember, there is very little dirt in the pile so you will get a more complete burn so a very small hole will accommodate the remainder. Many people choose to burn in winter when there is some snow cover, however the frozen ground will present a problem for burying the remainder until spring. If there is a lot of green wood we suggest leaving it to dry for a season before attempting to burn.

What kind of response do you get from customers?

"Wow "         "Amazing!"          "I didn’t think that could be done with anything but a bulldozer!"

"I didn’t think there was a way to get those dead trees out of that windbreak without
destroying all of the trees. I thought I was going to have to bulldoze everything."

What is the cost for your service?
We look at a project and give an estimate. We have an hourly rate that may vary depending on the price of fuel and other factors. The hourly rate per machine will be noted in the estimate.

Have a nice day and thanks for reading all of this information!

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