Frequently Asked Questions

Please call 641-424-9037 or email cgcengineer@cerrogordo.gov  and mention you want to talk about the snow fence program.  You can stop out and see us at 17274 Lark Avenue in Mason City too.

The county will pay $1/foot for stacked bales (2 high) running parallel and 200 feet from edge of road.

It is thought the corn will be harvested in the spring, but could be hand harvested in the fall - as long and stalks are not broken. 

The county is not applying any value to this method.

We work with our plow operators to pinpoint the areas which give us the most trouble for drifting.  Then we negotiate with the landowner/tenant.

The county will either use the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county yield numbers or use the certified yield monitor report for the parcel from the landowner/tenant.

24 rows of corn spaced about 30” apart and 500’ long would be 0.689 acres.  Using the 2023 prices of $6.72/bushel and an example of 110 bushels per acre – the price paid would be $509.31.

The County will pay the tenant or landowner based on its FSA reported yield or monitored harvest yield. Price per bushel is determined using the county-wide average cash price on August 1st each year plus $2.00 per bushel for October new corn price. Agreements only go from fall to spring and can be renewed each year.

In order for the standing corn ‘fence’ to work, the rows have to run parallel to the road.  The first row of corn left standing should be abut 200-210’ from the edge of the road. 

Our program would like to have a minimum of 12 rows of corn left and a maximum of 24 rows.

If we can make arrangements with the landowner/tenant, the county will first concentrate on paved roadways affecting a larger number of travelers where drifting is bad.  Gravel roadways will be considered if there are especially bad areas of drifting or the number of travelers affected is high.  Budget is always a limiting factor.

• Standing corn
  The program most desired by the County, leaving 12-24 rows up all winter:

• Pushed up snow
  When the ground freezes solid and when enough snow as accumulated, the county, with consent, takes a road grader or snow plow and pushes snow up in a line to act as a fence.  This may occur several times in the season.
   
• Stacked round hay bales
  Ideally stacked 2 tiers high.
   
• Tall silage bags
   
• Living Plants and Trees:

• Plastic Fence
  This is the most costly and labor intensive.  Due to limited supplies and fund, this is low on the list to be done over other methods.