“…soil will be ready for germination much earlier [and] drained soil will be better than undrained fields.”
Tag Archives tile drainage
Control drainage costly, but beneficial
Tiling can improve soil conditions, accelerate warming, boost crop growth and reduce nutrient runoff
Understanding tile drainage
Tiling can be a good solution for fixing multiple problems, but it can also be complex to install, and costs vary widely depending on the farm. Make purchasing decisions easier by doing your homework first.
Removing excess water is the big payoff for tile drainage. Submerged fields and saturated soils can slash yields, cause salinity problems and even spell the loss of the entire crop, if it’s bad enough. However, it is not an inexpensive fix, nor is it a simple solution, and it won’t work for every farm. That’s […] Read more
Make it drain: Is tile right for your fields?
A producer and an agrologist consider whether tile is worth your while
Tile drainage may be the best tool in the toolbox to manage saline soil in fields, a southwestern Manitoba farmer told an audience at the recent Ag Days farm show. Aaron Hargreaves, who co-owns Harwest Farms south of Brandon, said he and his four partners have struggled with soil salinity on their farm since they […] Read more
Strategies to increase your field’s potential
A panel discusses the importance of soil structure, tile drainage benefits and using precision ag and conservation to increase farm profitability
Farming has existed in one shape or form for more than 10,000 years. While farming methods have evolved considerably over that time, one thing that has remained the same is a desire among producers to get the most possible out of their land. Improving every acre was the focus of a panel discussion at Canola […] Read more
Take a ‘deliberate’ approach to water management
Backflood irrigation combined with tile drainage supported some of Joel Classen’s soybean yields through one of the driest summers on record
To prepare for future drought, Prairie farmers could consider using large ponds with controlled drainage structures and tile drainage for a “much more deliberate water management approach,” says David Lobb, a professor of soil science at the University of Manitoba. “It’s possible to hold water back and use it when we need it in a […] Read more
A dry year is a good time to talk drainage
Tile drainage systems need to be properly planned, but farmers say they are well worth the effort
Western Canadian farmers like their tile drainage projects. They are not particularly cheap improvements. Costs vary widely depending on size and complexity of the project but, on average, figure on about $1,000 per acre to get pipe in the ground. But the benefits, according to this October’s farmer panel members, are many: A tile drainage […] Read more
The value and benefits of tile drainage
Here’s how this practice can make your farm more profitable
Installing drainage tile on farmland comes with a hefty price tag, costing anywhere from $900 an acre up to $1,400 an acre or more by some estimates. Like for any large capital expense, producers need to weigh the decision carefully before moving ahead with this kind of project. Ultimately it comes down to dollars and […] Read more
When is tile drainage a good fit?
If your farmland has a high water table, floods frequently and suffers from salinity issues, odds are it can benefit, if there’s somewhere the water can go
After a two-day downpour drowned out 50 acres of canola last year, Dustin Williams decided it was finally time to do something about a field that had been plagued with paltry crops. “It just rotted out,” says Williams, who also grows wheat, oats, soybeans and edible beans on his farm near Souris, Man. It was […] Read more
Les Henry: Soil salinity and tile drainage
Can investing in tile drainage make your Prairie soil less saline and more profitable?
The idea for this subject came from a recent phone call from a farmer in west-central Saskatchewan. He was considering the purchase of a piece of land that was priced below recent sales but did have salinity problems. He was wondering about the feasibility of tile drainage to fix the problem and make the land […] Read more
Satellites and drainage a good partnership
Farmers Edge and NextGen Drainage Solutions team up to advance tile drainage tech
One of the most common questions farmers ask about tile drainage is, “Will it work in our area?” As probably one of the most expensive investments a farmer will make, next to purchasing land, it’s understandable that farmers want to make sure tile drainage will work and give them some tangible benefits before they take […] Read more
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