Drain Tile: Friend or Foe?

We explore the benefits and downsides of drain tile with Rodney Rulon, an Indiana farmer, and Matt Helmers, the director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University. Drain tiles dry out and warm up fields, boost productivity, and extend growing seasons, which can make them important economically. But they can also have negative effects on water quality. Zach and Mitchell talk with their guests about how to offset some of those negative effects within the farm’s system.

Resources:

Drainage Water Quality Impacts Study

Study looking at impacts of nitrogen application timing and cover crop inclusion on subsurface drainage water quality