The Chair for Seine Rat River Conservation District says it was a bad winter for soil drifting in this part of the province.

Cornie Goertzen gives a couple of reasons why it was so abnormal. For starters, he says the lack of snow this winter, combined with a lot of wind really blew the soil around.

A second reason has to do with tendencies of farmers. Goertzen notes if farmers would leave more crop residue on the fields it would allow for more moisture to soak in and also result in less soil drifting.

Goertzen says the Conservation District has come up with a way to try and prevent less drifting in future winters. It has purchased more than 5,000 saplings, mostly White Spruce trees. The trees cost the Conservation District approximately $1 apiece but will be handed out free of charge.

"It's a good price to pay for trees that will be keeping soil in place where we have soil drifting now on the fields," says Goertzen. "This winter was a bad winter for soil drifting and once you plant trees, you will have less of that."

Goertzen explains farmers or anyone from the general public can apply for up to 300 trees each. Applicants must identify where these trees will be planted and will be required to provide proof through photographs once they are in the ground.

According to Goertzen, farmers have started cutting down trees in recent years that used to serve as shelterbelts. He notes because of changing farming practices, many landowners do not like being interrupted by these tree lines on their fields.

Anyone wanting to apply for the trees must contact Seine Rat River Conservation District before May 11th.