Field windbreaks - carefully planned rows of trees and shrubs - can protect livestock and crops, promote wildlife, enhance views and block odor. The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (UMCA) will present a free workshop, "Windbreaks: Reducing energy use and helping control odor," 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Crowder College in Neosho, Mo.

Presenters will include Dusty Walter, UMCA technology transfer specialist; Michael Gold, UMCA Associate Director, Skip Mourglia, forestry soil conservationist for the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service; Troy Chockley, USDA, and Robert DeMoss, USDA.

Talks will focus on windbreak design, planting and irrigation; programs supporting windbreak creation; and identifying and controlling odor from livestock. There will be a field tour to view a local windbreak. Lunch will be provided.

The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry is currently researching how and why windbreaks block odor from livestock, especially from large confined animal feeding operations.

Windbreaks are just one of the five practices of agroforestry. Agroforestry practices help landowners diversify products, markets and farm income; improve soil and water quality; and reduce erosion, non-point source pollution and damage due to flooding. The integrated practices of agroforestry enhance habitats for fish and wildlife and improve biodiversity while sustaining land resources for generations to come. In addition to windbreaks, agroforestry practices include forest farming, alley cropping, silvopasture and riparian forest buffers. For more information, go to http://www.centerforagrofo restry.org.

Workshop sponsors include the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program and Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development.

There is no charge to attend the workshop, but registration is required by Friday, Nov. 28. To register, call Dusty Walter at 573-884-7991 or e-mail WalterD@missouri.edu.

Crowder College is located at 601 Laclede Ave. in Neosho, Mo. Watch for workshop signs.