Can I improve facility appearance with landscaping?
Many localities in Nebraska will have specific siting regulations that include setbacks from roads intended to keep facility buildings, animals, and manure storage out of sight and smell of the casual observer. People have been said to smell with their eyes, meaning that if they can see your operation and manure storages, they are more likely to complain of the smell. Visual barriers, like trees, can also act as useful windbreaks to mix the air and help dissipate odors. Other operations may construct a low berm or similar earthen barrier to block many of the facility buildings from casual view. Whichever strategy is used, taking care that the blocking feature is aesthetically pleasing can go a long way to improving how neighbors feel about the new addition to the neighborhood. Maintain plantings and don’t let them become infested with weeds. Using a variety of species or native plants can help to reduce landscape maintenance and water needs.
Other Resources
- Landscaping videos from backyard farmer: https://byf.unl.edu/management
- Native species list from Nebraska Arboretum: https://plantnebraska.org/plants/resources.html
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