UPDATES TO THE VEB PROGRAM

Jim PasswatersThe “Tree Guy”

NRCS Standards Standards state VEB’s should be 50 ft plus 5

additional feet for each additional fan. This eliminates many farms from having cost-

share due to distances to roads, ditches, cropland

Three years worth of research is required to change the standards

Research needs to be completed by a “scientist” and published.

Working with Shawn Belt , USDA Horticulturalist to accomplish this task.

Farms that we are using to change the standards

Trying New Species Same procedures, three years research

by a scientist and published in a scientific journal.

No money for the plants Research is funded in part by United

Soybean Council since we don’t need to obey the rules established by NRCS

Arizona Cypress

Southern Magnolia

Photinia

New Varieties of Hybrid Willows

Arundo donax

Hardy Sugarcane

River Cane

Grasses

Research one product which is now in great

demand is willow for poultry bedding. For this purpose, the willow is processed to produce a fluffy bedding, which the hens prefer and is especially in demand for broiler houses.

An important bonus is that the salicylic acid in willow attacks ammonia, thereby improving the environment of poultry houses.

Smoke Tests with Bud Malone