 Shelter belts, or rows of shrubs and trees planted along the north and west sides of farms and ranches provide many benefits to humans and animals alike. The most important of these is protection from Wyoming's prevailing winds. Shelter belts are windbreaks comprised of one or more rows of trees and shrubs that are planted in an L shape around the area to be protected. Around barns and homes and at the edges of fields and pastures are all areas where shelter belts can be found. The effectiveness of the windbreak or shelter belt is determined by four factors, snow catching ability, number of evergreen rows, overall width of the belt and the height of the trees. These factors also affect the benefits of shelter belts, which include home energy conservation, cost savings in livestock production, snow control, wildlife habitat, air filtering, soil conservation and aesthetics. Establishing a shelter belt on your property can provide you with many benefits. For more information on shelter belt design, contact your local extension office or your conservation district. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Ashley Garles, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.