Despite the promise of shelterbelts as a beneficial technology there are some potential drawbacks that are common to tree based technologies.
There is the time needed for the vegetation to grow. This is a difficult technological drawback when dealing with acute odor problems and retrofitting plant material is the management option.
It is likely that trees need to be at least 3–5 years old before any noticeable benefits occur (thoughaesthetically, benefits may occur sooner). Shelterbelts also have space needs. Some livestock systems are more space limited than others. And several rows of trees throughout a production site can add up to hundreds of trees. Furthermore,
facility land space may be limited because of maintenance and access roads. Trees need to be located so as to not hinder the use of those roads.
Of particular concern is that for optimal use some shelterbelts may best be planted on land that is not part of the production site, particularly around fields where manure is spread. This may require coordination across property ownerships and the planting of trees on edges of active agricultural land. Government assistance programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) may provide some financial support but multiple landowner coordination is often difficult to manage.