Winter Project: Farm Drainage
What do you guys do all winter? That is a question that we get all the time. I think many people figure that farmers just head for the beach and take it easy for a few months. Some do just that, but not around here. We have been busy with planning, purchasing, training, and other general preparations for the coming growing season. One new thing that we took on this year that has been a fun challenge is tiling.
Drainage tile is not a new concept. My grandpa tells us stories of the miners coming out over 80 years ago and hand digging trenches for clay tile when work at the mine was slow. In fact, drainage tile has been placed in Illinois since early European settlers began arriving here. So what is new about this and why now? The short answer is that the benefits, technology, equipment, and the economics of modern agriculture have made tiling very attractive.
At a basic level, drainage improves the farmability of a piece of land. A well drained area will accommodate field traffic more quickly after a rain event and compact less in the wake of such traffic. Dry soils warm more quickly which allows earlier planting and ultimately a longer growing season. Once in the ground, corn and soybeans do not tolerate waterlogged roots for long. Therefore, timely removal of excess water is a necessity in keeping plants alive. Additionally, a well aerated soil encourages microbial activity which promotes the release of key nutrients.
To capitalize on as many of these benefits as possible, a lot of work goes into design. Everybody has heard the expression WATER FLOWS DOWNHILL, but it is not quite that simple. Most tile today is part of a system that is designed to manage soil saturation and create uniform moisture throughout a field. The design process has to take in to account tile size, slope, pattern, spacing, and depth. Computer programs and GPS elevation maps make this process much easier for those of us who are not hydrologic engineers. We can design an entire system in a matter of hours which will optimize drainage and installation efficiency.
The design work done before going to the field makes the installation much easier. When we arrive at the field, the tractor already has the location and depth of each line programmed in the computer. We simply drive each line and survey to verify the design before lowering the plow in the ground. Once in the ground, the tractor steers the line provided and adjusts the plow depth to maintain grade across the run. It is pretty satisfying to see it all come together and have water running out the end of the tile almost instantly.
In summary, tiling is a good thing! While we cannot control the weather, drainage is one form of defense we use to manage its impact. Tile gives us a better chance for consistent productivity on every acre. Less variability in our production adds security to global markets and food supply. All of this is good for producers and consumers around the world! As we continue to push for better yields and overall profitability, we see tile as an important part of the equation.
