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Why Late Summer Is the Best Time to Plan Your Fall Drain Tile Install
Most farmers start thinking about drain tile in the fall, once the combine is parked and there’s finally time to deal with it. But if you wait until after harvest to start the conversation, you’re already behind. The planning, design, and scheduling that make a fall install possible need to start now, in August, not […]
Walking Your Fields Before Harvest? Here’s What Wet Spots Are Telling You
By August, the crop is about as tall as it’s going to get. That means something useful: the wet spots that have been costing you yield all season are finally easy to see. In a few more weeks, the combine will roll through and level out the evidence. Right now, while the canopy is full […]
What Drown-Out Acres Are Really Costing You Each Season
You already know which acres they are. The low spots. The corners that turn into ponds after a heavy rain. The stretches that look okay in May and then quietly give out by July. Most farmers have learned to work around them. Plan the passes differently. Write off a few bushels. Accept that some ground […]
What Happens If Drain Tile Is Installed Incorrectly?
Drain tile is a long-term investment. Done right, it improves field performance for decades. Done wrong, it creates problems that can be expensive, difficult to diagnose, and even harder to fix. The frustrating part is that a poorly installed system is not always obvious right away. You might not see the failure until a wet […]
What Is Drain Tile and How Does It Work?
If you’ve farmed in North Dakota long enough, you’ve heard the term. Maybe a neighbor installed tile a few years back and hasn’t stopped talking about it. Maybe you’ve watched certain fields outperform others in wet years and wondered what’s different. Most of the time, drain tile is part of that story. Here’s a straightforward […]
What LIDAR Mapping Reveals About Your Field That You Can't See from the Surface
You know your land. You've farmed it for years, maybe decades. You know where the wet spots are, where the equipment gets stuck in a bad spring, and which areas never quite produce the way they should. But knowing where the problem shows up isn't the same as understanding why it's happening. That's where LIDAR […]
How Long Does Drain Tile Last?
When you’re investing in a drain tile system, it’s a fair question to ask: how long is this actually going to hold up? A properly designed and installed drain tile system can last 50 years or more. Some systems installed decades ago are still performing today. But like most things in agriculture, the quality of […]
Signs Your North Dakota Field Needs Better Drainage
Some drainage problems are obvious. Standing water in late May. Crops that drown out in the same corner every wet year. Equipment ready to go, but stuck waiting for the entire field to dry out. But not every drainage problem announces itself that clearly. Some show up quietly, in yield maps, soil structure, and the […]
Does Drain Tile Cause Downstream Flooding? Setting the Record Straight
“Does drain tile cause downstream flooding?” is one of the most common concerns raised about drain tile, and one of the most misunderstood. The question usually goes something like this: If you're moving water off your field faster, doesn't that water have to go somewhere? And doesn't that mean more water downstream, faster? It's a […]