Soggy conditions: A good time to assess drainage systems

Hello everyone! This has been a cool, wet and frustrating spring for Bureau County farmers. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, only 10 percent of Illinois corn has been planted as of May 10. Last year at this time, 55 percent of the corn crop had been planted, but normally, 84 percent of Illinois corn is planted by now. This is a slow start, but it is also a good time to take advantage of the wet conditions and to make a critical assessment of your farms’ drainage systems.

According to Jay Solomon, an engineering technology Extension educator, this is a great opportunity to show absentee landlords the extent of the drainage problems in their fields. In addition to the obvious standing water, a lot of soil erosion has occurred in many fields. A discussion of the yield impacts from these conditions could help landowners better understand the need to invest in an improved drainage system. Good documentation will help to demonstrate the extent of the problems/damage. Create a map with long-term references, and if possible, use GPS coordinates for maximum precision.

Drainage systems may incorporate surface and subsurface drainage components. Soil type and topography make a difference in the type and amount of drainage a field may need. According to the Illinois Drainage Guide, tight soils and steep topography will respond best to a surface drainage system. Most level soils with good hydraulic conductivity will respond well to subsurface drainage. Frequently a combination of surface and subsurface drainage will produce the best results.

Surface drainage utilizes shallow-grass covered ditches to remove the runoff from the field to lateral ditches and outlet channels. The grass waterways are designed to allow farm implements access during most of the year. Lateral ditches and outlet channels tend to be deeper with steep sides requiring bridges to cross in most cases. These structures must be constructed and maintained carefully to prevent erosion damage.

Subsurface drainage tile can be installed in random, parallel or herringbone patterns based on the topography and water to be removed. Random systems have been the traditional method used to dry “wet” spots in the fields. A herringbone pattern works well in narrow depressions. Parallel systems have generated considerable interest as a way to increase productivity for flat, regularly shaped fields. These systems could be used to control the water table under a field and promote better yields during wet years.

According to Trent Munson, University of Illinois Extension natural resources program coordinator, throughout the Bureau Creek Watershed, drainage continues to be a major concern for all farmers and their agricultural/livestock practices. Considerable land loss has already plagued many landowners throughout the watershed, most specifically in the southern portion of the hydrologic unit. This trend will unfortunately continue with devastating consequences if Bureau County continues to witness these seasonal near-monsoonal conditions. Better land management practices must be implemented and performed to ensure the longevity of the farming profession in our county, which is truly the backbone of our community.

The Illinois Drainage Guide (online version) provides the latest resources on agriculture drainage at www.wq.uiuc.edu/dg. This guide is easy to use and has lots of useful information, including drainage guidelines, outlets for drainage systems, surface and subsurface drainage, conservation drainage, grassed waterway design, history of Illinois drainage and Illinois drainage charts and tables.

I would like to bring attention to the excellent Web site farmdoc.uiuc.edu. I know that many of you are familiar with this site, but if you haven’t taken a look, this would be a great time. This extremely useful Web site provides comprehensive and integrated risk management information and analysis. Subject matter sections include finance, marketing and outlook, management, law and taxation, crop insurance, FAST tools, prices and weather and policy. This Web site has been a valuable tool for many Illinois producers and agricultural professionals and is constantly updated to provide current and relevant economic farm information.

I would like to congratulate Tim Goodrum on his completion of the Master Gardener internship class through the University of Illinois Extension. For more information about the Master Gardener program or other volunteer opportunities, call our office at (815) 875-2878.

This is a reminder to all 4-H members and leaders, fair registrations are due June 15. I know it may seem early, but that is only a month away. The Extension office is already geared up for the 2009 4-H fair, and we are looking forward to the many excellent projects that the Bureau County 4-Hers enter, display and show every year.

Sherry Hockings is the agricultural program coordinator for the University of Illinois Extension — Bureau County.