By Brian Hefty
Q: How can I work with NRCS when I feel they’re being unrealistic with wetland determinations?
A: Nationally, NRCS is actually supportive of tiling, because tiling dramatically reduces erosion (university studies show an approximate 40% reduction in erosion when land is tiled). Don’t forget the original name of NRCS was actually the Soil Erosion Service when it began back in the 1930’s. Tiling is a soil conservation and improvement practice when done correctly. However, some local offices may interpret things differently than other local offices. We encourage you to talk to our newly hired Soil Improvement Specialist at our Baltic office, Brian Top, if you have questions. He has worked for NRCS for many years, but is now part of our team. He can help advise you on wetlands.
Q: Is there a shortage of drain tile right now?
A: Yes. I expect the demand for tile to exceed the supply for the next 3 to 5 years. What that means for you is you need to plan ahead and take delivery of tile early (winter and summer delivery times are best). If you’re looking for tile today, please call our Baltic office and ask for Jim Goodale or Mike Bemboom. They have been locating tile for many farmers recently, and they can probably help you, too.
Q: Won’t tiling hurt me in a drought year?
A: Drain tile does nothing more than lower the water table. In drought years where the water table is already lower than the tile lines, those lines won’t even run, so there’s nothing to worry about.
Q: You’re talking about tiling all the time, but it probably won’t help me if I farm in the western Dakotas or Montana, will it?
A: I believe that in most fields, there are areas that do need tile. Even in Montana, look at how much excess moisture has slowed down field work from tillage to seeding to harvest in the last few years. When you really evaluate it, though, it’s usually just pockets or areas in fields that are causing a problem. To run a few tile lines out there wouldn’t cost much money, but it would probably lower the salt and pH levels in those spots and increase yield by at least 15% to 25% in my experience. If you have some real alkaline/saline areas in your fields, tile will usually increase yield in those areas 50% or more. In other words, tile typically has a 1 year 100% payback…2 to 3 years at the most. Best of all, it’s so much more fun farming when you don’t have to wait for the wet holes to dry up.