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Designing for water quality
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In total Draining smarter control How on-farm Innovative drainage practices practices can mitigate meet nutrient realloss and keep world conditions waterways cleaner. NOVEMBER MONTH 2026
November 2026 Vol. 53, No. 2
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Sections and columns
4 EDITORIAL 6 INDUSTRY NEWS 28 LICO UPDATE 30 FROM THE ADMC 32 INDUSTRY NEWS 34 LICA'S VIEW
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Features
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DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND DESIGN Designing for water quality.
12 CONVERSATIONS Years in the making.
14 IN THE FIELD
Proceed with caution.
16 RESEARCH
To drain or not to drain?
21 DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
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AND DESIGN
A not-so-slippery slope.
24 CONVERSATIONS A whole new angle.
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Check out our new look Our biweekly eNews arrives in inboxes every other Tuesday, but our website is updated even more frequently. Now, with a brand new look for 2027, there's even more of a reason to check out our website, which is fresh with a new design! Digital editions Our free digital editions are all available online, including our recent e-book of contractors' best field stories – which you won't find anywhere else! NOVEMBER 2026 | DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR 3
EDITORIAL
The more things change T by Bree Rody
wo things can be true at once: I can feel like I just started at Drainage Contractor – and in the agriculture group at its parent company, Annex Business Media – just yesterday and still refer to it to my friends and family as my “new job” despite now being in this position for six years and it being the longest full-time job I’ve ever held since obtaining my degree, while also feeling like a lifetime has passed since I put out the last issue of DC in spring 2026. But let’s look a bit at those two worlds – because maybe there’s a reason life doesn’t feel too differently in the fall of 2026 than it did in fall 2020. When I started on this magazine, we were in (technically the end) of another Trump white house term; the world had endured months of an economically and socially upending disruptions like no other, agricultural producers, manufacturers and virtually everyone tied to every commodity’s supply chain worried how the next wrinkle or complication would add further turmoil and confusion to their lives and jobs. I don’t need to waste my word count stating where we are in the fall of 2026, except to say that there are, surprisingly, a few key differences alongside all those similarities. For example, despite the fact that up until 2022, I was still receiving emails about meetings, shows and conferences being cancelled, just last week, I attended a major farm show – when I started here, even an outdoor farm show was offlimits in many jurisdictions. And, I have a few
"Divisiveness continues to be a theme in ag and water management."
U.S. work trips on the docket for 2027. Still, the biggest throwback to 2020 is the sense of uncertainty across the agriculture industry and affiliated contracting sectors. From week to week, producers aren’t certain what kind of return they’ll get on their exports this year – or how much their equipment will cost. For contractors, that’s not necessarily translating to a dip in business; most contractors I chatted with this summer were tough to get a hold of on account of busy installation seasons, and reported with good-humored exasperation that they could use some help to keep up with the demand. Young talent, look no further – there are still opportunities! Divisiveness continues to be a theme in ag and water management – let’s just accept that this will always be the case. Matters that seem mundane to those not in agriculture, like a summertime battle over wetland easements in the U.S. Prairie Pothole region, stirred up ferocity on both sides, with a sense of unease still riding underneath. Perhaps it’s that times are getting more tense, but it’s easy to understand how emotions run high when it feels like one’s business is always on the line. Although the only constant is change, those changes mostly have a consistent effect: more pressure is placed on farmers. This means yields are of the utmost importance. And, as the evidence mounts that effective drainage equals strong yields, perhaps that’s why despite unease and uncertainty, the phone keeps ringing. Now, if only the recognition and appreciation could come next. DC
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NEXT ISSUE: The next issue of Drainage Contractor hits mailboxes in MAY 2027 and will feature commentary from LICA and LICO, the ADMC, guest researchers and more! 4 DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR | NOVEMBER 2026
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INDUSTRY NEWS DRAINWEST TO RETURN FOR 2027 DrainWest Forum, Drainage Contractor’s unique, in-person conference dedicated to fostering the growth of Western Canada’s drainage industry, will officially return in 2027, with its date set for Feb. 24 in Saskatoon, SK. While the first year of the event took place in Brandon, MB, where drainage is a small bit healthily growing industry, the sophomore event will make the move to Saskatchewan where drainage is even more new to the market – and where new research and innovation in agricuture, water management and nutrient management are driving advancements quickly. “What we found most heartening about the Brandon event was the number of in-depth conversations taking place during and between sessions, over lunch and all the way out the door to the parking lot at the end of the day,” says Bree Rody, Drainage Contractor editor. “Drainage can be a complex issue that often calls for multiple perspectives, and hosting an in-person forum that allows not only for knowledge exchange but also for the open exchange of nuanced ideas is crucial, especially in these burgeoning markets.” Speakers and a detailed agenda will be announced soon.
FISH AND WILDLIFE DELAY WETLANDS CHANGE In response to more than 200,000 public comments from environmental, wildlife and sporting groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has delayed making any further changes around current conservation easements in what’s known as the Prairie Pothole region. The commentary process was initiated earlier this summer, following at least two legal challenges to a 2023 publication that dictated farmers’ abilities to conduct “potentially impactful practices” on what it defined as wetland easements. “Our administration is dedicated to protecting both the wetland easements purchased by the FWS that are necessary to protect our conservation heritage as well as the private landowners’ use of their lands outside the easement boundaries. At this time, no further action is planned as we review the information received,” the agency wrote. Although the signatures in support represented not only environmental groups but also sportsman/hunting groups and other concerned parties, many groups have expressed upset at the move – including senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and, most likely, the number of farmers, landowners an contractors who have already taken issue – some at a court level – with the agency’s previous actions. Cramer, who applauded FWS’s decision to open the file for public comments earlier this summer, stated that this decision was “screwing” landowners. Farmers and drainage companies have been among those to challenge the previous ruling in court, citing loss of business. Initially, FWS launched a probe, resulting in praise from Cramer and other farm and property advocates, although it appears no further action will be taken for now given the more-than 200,000 signatures obtained over 10 days. Any ensuing decision would cover what is known as the “Prairie Pothole Region,” which includes portions of the Midwest including the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa, as well as northern Montana. Canadians are also technically part of the region, which spans parts of Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba. The “potholes” are shallow depressions created over the centuries by glaciers and other natural factors, which have created popular breeding habitats for migratory birds. Between the 1970s written definition and the 2024 publication of its interpretation, the U.S. federal government and the landowners — upon whose properties the easements happened to fall — worked together, with landowners receiving a payment to retain their property but agree that the wetlands could not be drained, filled, burned or levelled. 6 DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR | NOVEMBER 2026
ONTARIO UNIVERSITY SHOWCASES DRAIN TILE Trent University in Peterborough, ON hosted its second annual Farm Research Open House earlier this August. The university began hosting the field days in August 2025, when it unveiled its new Lightbody Drive Shed facility. Community members including local farmers and donors were invited to learn more about the research initiatives hosted by the university on its research farm, while also seeing the proof of those initiatives – in the yield. On top of innovations like an Eosense automated soil flux chamber, the university also showcased its tile drainage system. Trent’s tile system was installed on the farm in 2022, which gave its researchers the opportunity to set up experiments linking water quality and soil health. Its system, which currently sits beneath a field of soy crops, includes controlled drainage units, and it has been the site of collaboration with groups such as the Peterborough Soil and Crop Improvement Associations. Its system is unique because different sampling sites enable researchers to plant different commodities at different parts of the site, measuring the nutrients at various points. This year’s field day also celebrated the new research initiatives upon which the university is embarking. One of those initiatives is the new farmerled research project, for which the university hoped to recruit three to four farmers at the field day itself, which would involve students doing the research work in collaboration with the farmers, ensuring the farmers can gain new knowledge on key matters where they may not have had the time or resources to complete the work themselves.
The future of drainage and agricultural water management in Western Canada
February 24, 2027
Western Development Museum | Saskatoon, SK
Drainage Contractor is excited to bring DrainWest back for a second year. In February, the one-day, in-person event moves to Saskatchewan, connecting farmers, contractors, municipal engineers and ag advisors focused on the future of drainage and agricultural water management in Western Canada. Join us for a blend of education, networking and product discovery to drive your business forward.
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INDUSTRY NEWS DRAINAGE WATER RECYCLING ON DISPLAY Wildwood Demonstration Farm, located near St. Marys in southwestern Ontario, is now home to the province's newest drainage water recycling (DWR) system. The solar-powered system on the 18-acre field was officially unveiled in May at the demonstration farm as part of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s ongoing efforts and demonstration projects to develop and showcase practical solutions for more resilient agriculture in Southwestern Ontario. The system incorporates an onsite storage pond, a solar-powered pump and a subsurface tile drainage system to store tile runoff and recycle it back onto the field when crops need the moisture more.
Pictured: Tile drainage being installed at Ontario's Wildwood Demo Farm.
Prior to the system installation, the field had a history of poor drainage including prolonged surface ponding, which can delay spring planting and result in reduced crop yields. The system is con-
sidered ideal for many producers, as the ondemand moisture can aid in crop yields and the system can also help keep valuable nutrients on the field rather than sending them downstream.
The project includes several different drainage layouts to help researchers better understand how water management systems can improve crop performance and environmental outcomes under various conditions.
FLOODING PROMPTS CALLS FOR BETTER DRAINAGE Historic flooding in various parts of Manitoba this past summer has left producers with significant losses on their crops – and industry groups say more robust drainage systems could have mitigated the flooding. As grants roll out for residents and private homes affected by the flooding, agricultural producers are facing mounting challenges, as some floods have further entrenched already-wet fields. Beyond delays to crop progress, the persisting moisture has exacerbated some disease pressure. With some fields having been underwater for nearly one month, producers and local leaders alike have called for improved drainage infrastructure and policy in the province, for both municipal and agricultural drains. Manitoba’s previous government amended the province’s Water Rights Act in 2019, reducing red tape for small drainage projects. However, the agricultural industry had suggested further steps to create more robust municipal and agricultural drainage systems, including the ability for farmers to drain wetlands on their lands. This past year, Keystone Agricultural Producers, a coalition of Manitoba’s various commodity industry groups, passed three resolutions at its AGM related to drainage, one being that KAP lobby the provincial government to ensure the annual maintenance of provincial drainage network; another to lobby the province to review the drainage permitting process, consult with producers and make changes at improving the speed and predictability for drainage projects; and one for KAP, in partnership with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, encourage local governments to enter into agreements with producers to conduct drainage maintenance work. 8 DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR | NOVEMBER 2026
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND DESIGN
DESIGNING FOR WATER QUALITY
A real-world approach to drainage water management
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by JACK KAZMIERSKI
or farmers, drainage has traditionally been about getting excess water off the field. Today, as weather patterns become less predictable and the value of every inch of available moisture increases, there is growing interest in a different approach: getting rid of excess water when necessary, while keeping water in the soil when crops actually need it. That is the premise behind controlled drainage.
Image courtesy of Jeppe Kjaersgaard
Rather than allowing tile drainage to continuously discharge water whenever conditions permit, controlled drainage uses a structure at the tile outlet to adjust the elevation at which water leaves the field. In wet conditions, the system can be opened to lower the water table. When conditions become drier, the outlet can be raised to retain more water in the soil. For drainage contractors, that represents an opportunity to move beyond simply installing tile, and helping farmers leverage the power of a system that offer greater control over water management. The experience of Minnesota farmer Jared Nordick, whose farm is located near Rothsay,
provides an example of how the approach can work in practice. Nordick farms about 1,800 acres, approximately 1,000 of which are tiled, and has been using controlled drainage for over 11 years. His system has tile installed approximately 36 to 42 inches deep, with control structures allowing him to hold water back when needed. The system is deliberately managed according to field and weather conditions. “We leave the gate open in the spring to let the water run free,” says Nordick. “Once the crop is in the ground, we put the gates back down to 18 inches.” The objective is not to keep the field wet. It is to remove excess water when necessary,
RIGHT: Tile plow installing tile line
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LEFT: Harvest behind a drainage control structure and drainage monitoring equipment
the story. A well-managed drainage system can also have a major impact on field accessibility. Nordick says tile drainage has allowed him to get onto the field roughly 10 days to two weeks earlier in the spring. Lowering the water table also helps the soil warm more quickly, while reducing the likelihood that equipment will sink into wet ground. Kjaersgaard sees a similar advantage: Drainage can allow equipment to enter a field earlier in the spring and potentially move through a wet field during harvest without creating deep ruts. This matters over the long term because operating heavy equipment in saturated soil can damage soil structure and reduce productivity.
and then retain some of the remaining moisture once the crop is established. This is particularly important during a growing season where there’s excessive moisture in the spring, and not enough moisture during a drier summer.
HOLDING WATER FOR THE CROP The potential agronomic benefit is especially apparent in corn. Jeppe Kjaersgaard, research scientist with the Pesticide & Fertilizer Management Division of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, has been involved in the research project at Nordick’s farm. He says the yield differences observed there have generally been more pronounced in corn than soybeans. “The corn yield increase is a little higher than 10 bushels,” says Kjaersgaard. He explains that the soybean response has been less consistent, with some years showing a benefit and others showing
less difference between controlled and conventional drainage. Nordick puts the longer-term improvement at approximately 10% for both crops on his farm, although he notes that the benefit varies according to conditions. The biggest advantage of controlled drainage, he explains, may come when a wet spring is followed by a dry summer. Kjaersgaard explains that excess spring moisture can be drained to allow planting, while water that would otherwise have left the field can subsequently be retained for use later in the growing season. That can be particularly valuable around corn tasseling and pollination, when moisture stress can reduce kernel development. “If it’s dry at that time, the pollination is just not as good,” he says.
EARLIER ACCESS TO THE FIELD Plant health and crop yield are only part of
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Controlled drainage also introduces an environmental benefit by changing the way water and nutrients leave the field. Kjaersgaard points out that surface runoff can carry sediment and phosphorus away from agricultural land. Phosphorus is particularly important because it binds to soil particles, meaning that erosion can transport it into downstream water bodies. Subsurface drainage changes that pathway by moving water through the soil rather than across the surface, thereby generally reducing phosphorus loss from the field. However, there is a trade-off: nitrogen, particularly nitrate, is dissolved in water and can move through tile drainage. That is one reason the Minnesota research has examined controlled drainage as a way to reduce nitrogen losses. At Nordick’s site, the research found a reduction in nitrogen loss with controlled drainage, compared with conventional free drainage. Kjaersgaard cites a reduction of approximately 29% over the 2017-to-2023 period. For farmers looking to address nitrogen, as well as water management, Kjaersgaard says controlled drainage can be combined with another engineered practice: a saturated buffer. A saturated buffer diverts tile water into a distribution pipe running through a vegetated buffer alongside a stream. The
Image courtesy of Aaron Janz, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
DESIGNING FOR WATER QUALITY
water moves back into the soil within the buffer and moves towards the stream due to gravity. Naturally occurring bacteria in the soil converts nitrate into nitrogen gas, which is released harmlessly back to the atmosphere. At the research site, the saturated buffer removed more than 90% of nitrogen from the drainage water in some years. The two practices therefore address different parts of the water management equation. Controlled drainage manages water within the field, while a saturated buffer provides additional treatment at the field edge.
DRAINAGE AS A FOUNDATION FOR CONSERVATION The benefits do not end with water management. Kjaersgaard describes good drainage as a foundation for success with other soil health and conservation practices, including cover crops, residue management and nutrient management. This makes drainage contractors an important part of a larger conservation strategy. Kjaersgaard explains that while
controlled drainage can help manage water within the field, it is not a substitute for every other conservation practice. He points out that practices such as cover crops or residue cover may still be needed to address other challenges, including wind erosion, as an example. Nordick has also tackled erosion directly on his farm through stream bank restoration, which incorporated geotextile fabric, large and small rocks and strategically-planted vegetation. Approximately 1,000 feet of stream bank was addressed, and Nordick says the restoration has effectively stopped the erosion in the treated areas. The stream bank project was separate from the controlled drainage research, but it illustrates the broader conservation approach that can surround a drainage system, managing water below the soil surface, while also addressing the consequences of excessive surface flows.
THINK ABOUT CONTROL BEFORE INSTALLING THE TILE According to Kjaersgaard, one of the key takeaways from the Minnesota project
is that controlled drainage should be considered before the tile goes into the ground. He explains that the system needs to be designed with future control in mind because modifying an installed system later can be difficult or impossible. Site selection is also important. Controlled drainage works particularly well on relatively flat land because a control structure can influence a larger portion of the field. On sloping ground, the water level created by a control structure may be substantially farther below the soil surface as you move away from the outlet, limiting the area that receives the full benefit. When it comes to controlled drainage, the ultimate goal is not simply to move water away. It is to move the right amount of water, at the right time. For farmers dealing with increasingly variable conditions, this level of control can mean earlier field access in the spring, less saturated soil, better water availability during critical crop development periods, higher yields and reduced nutrient movement and loss. DC
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CONVERSATIONS
YEARS IN THE MAKING
he term “edge-of-field practices” has become so common that it might feel like a catch-all that refers to any conservation drainage practice. But the term has a specific meaning – one that is important in drainage and agricultural water management. It’s a definition – and an application – one conglomerate group is trying to promote to producers and contractors alike, so they can encourage adoption and best management of such treatments. Edge-of-field practices, broadly, refer to drainage practices, installations or features placed, literally, at the edge of a field that treat water on its way out of the field through removing/reducing excess nutrients to avoid so many excess nutrients travelling downstream and creating harmful algal blooms in water bodies. This can take the form of installations such as various types of buffers (riparian buffers, vegetative buffers, saturated buffers), denitrifying bioreactors or combination-system features like twostage ditches. To those less familiar with conservation systems, this term might be used to refer to all conservation methods, like controlled drainage or drainage water recycling. However, as these practices apply to water in the field, and focus on the water that circulates in the field, they would be referred to more commonly as in-field practices – although it’s worth noting they can be combined with various edge-of-field practices. For nearly a decade, various midwestern groups and institutions have been working together to show stakeholders how these practices can work, either separately or
by BREE RODY
The most recent Edge-of-Field Partnership field day attracted contractors, producers and agency folk.
together, to create better water and better value. What was originally called the Edge-ofField Partnership started in 2017 as the Saturated Buffer partnership, explains Illinois LICA executive director Ryan Arch. The group consisted of Illinois LICA (ILICA), the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and researchers from the University of Illinois. Although the focus was solely on one practice at the time, Arch says the goals of the group were similar in their essence to what they still are: “One was to demonstrate what the practice is physically, two is to provide that to landowners and agency folks, to demonstrate their effectiveness by capturing that additional data.” Arch clarifies, “We already had our
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NRCS data, but we wanted to further show that over five years after that practice installation, there was a guarantee we had with the landowner.” The last piece of the partnership was to “demonstrate the cooperative efforts of the commodity groups, working with the landowners and contractors, advancing our goals here in Illinois.” The partnership changed names about two years in, when it shifted its sole focus from saturated buffers to woodchip bioreactors. Keeping most of the same partners, it swapped out the U of I research team with Southern Illinois University researchers, who captured research data specific to bioreactors. Originally, this iteration of the partnership looked at bioreactors and constructed wetlands,
Courtesy of Illinois LICA.
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An edge-of-field partnership spreads the word
but then narrowed its focus solely to the bioreactors. With two partnerships covering north-central and southern Illinois, the roles of each party were welldefined: Illinois LICA contributed in-kind construction services and discounts, the NRCS provided design work with their engineers, and the farm bureau worked within their membership to find producers invested in the practice. Each one of those partnerships extended beyond the original five-year period and into another. The group has also delivered multiple field days, through which they’ve seen hundreds of interested parties come out to learn more about the well-supported research data and see these partnerships in practice. Best of all, Arch says, they’ ve had about eight bioreactor installations that came out of that. He credits the in-person, up-close experience of the field days for that. “You get to see some of that underground [work] that you wouldn’t normally see, postconstruction..” Other partners have come in along the way, like Minnesota engineering
firm Ecosystems Exchange. The firm was originally doing private grant work, designing about 100 projects in their local watershed. Their grant was exclusive to design, with no money for construction. With Illinois LICA already providing that initiative, they were able to serve as – in Arch’s words – “the glue.” “We’ve got designs ready to go, we have interested producers in this watershed, so we could pull in some practices and get some producers in.” At its most recent field day, held this past August, the group showcased three conservation practices in a tour bus stop tyle. The audience included producers, agency folk and contractors. “We know there’s a lack of education – the research shows that we need more general education.” Considering the day was pulled together in about three weeks, Arch thinks the 30 or so that showed up was heartening, although he says the group is always pushing for more, and adds that they’ve had “hundreds” come through before. “I think there were some serious folks in the room,” he says.
In the case of this field day, it showcased practices working together, which helped contextualize potential ROI, which Arch says is best understood in terms of yield daya. “Your biggest ROI is going to be with your drainage water management, whether you’re doing that manually or automated.” Drainage water management, also known as controlled drainage, can be incorporated ahead of these edge-of-field practices. He acknowledges that it’s harder to consider the ROI on saturated buffers or bioreactors, whose efficacy largely helps something that doesn’t make money – healthy waterways. However, in combination with drainage water management, which can help provide more water for crops in need during dry periods, it can be a real win-win. And, Arch emphasizes, there are “decent programs” for cost-share across multiple agencies for these practices to be installed. “It’s not a bad time. There’s money out there.” Water quality is the biggest resource concern in the Midwest, he says. “I hope all of us continue to work together to pool resources to continue to provide that education.” DC
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IN THE FIELD
Proceed with caution
By Bree Rody
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arlier this summer, Drainage Contractor embarked on its annual e-book project. The e-book project is always meant to provide readers not only with content but also with evergreen resources. In its conversation with contractors from across North America, DC found despite their different specializations, geographies and even business philosophies, drainage contractors all seemed to have one thing in common: they could all tell great stories. From tales of equipment stuck in mud to the discovery of wells and wildlife, contractors opened up to Drainage Contractor over the summer. Their tales were so good, we thought we’d share a few here – but you’ll only find all of them in one place, plus extra resources on PPE and job-day tips in our e-book.
TIME IS MONEY Time lost can be hard to estimate, says LaVerne Weber. The owner of Grade Solutions in Illinois knows a thing or two about the value of time, especially 14 DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR | NOVEMBER 2026
on contract-based jobs. And one can save – or waste – time before they even step onto the field. Researching the area in which you’ll be working is a must, he says. And in some cases, says Weber, the research involved isn’t that complex. For example, Weber sites his small town of roughly 500 people: its challenging topography should be visible on a soil map, but he says it’s common for busy contractors to breeze past the crucial step of checking a soil map. “There’s a lot of rock underneath this soil – it’s kind of interesting, because in some of these northern counties, in the northern part [of the county you’ll find significant rock, and the southern half does not – it’s the total opposite,” he explains. “You see some of it in our subsurface irrigation, where we’re literally putting irrigation lines on a contour.” Weber’s town? Rock City. He laughs. “It’s not rocket science,” he says with a chuckle, “One probably should know these things, but when you start operating for a while, things start clicking.” He says the “old timers” of days past weren’t too creative with their names, but it certainly helps a
Image courtesy of Grade Solutions
The wildest in-field stories come with important lessons
contractor brace for what they could find. In his area, town and road names include Rock Grove, Rock City Road, Rock Run Road, etc. “That’s your sign that you should pay attention,” he says. For his team, it’s a sign to be prepared with boring equipment. For example, during a 2025 excavation for a cheese plant, the pre-work scouting indicated nearby limestone. “The corner of this excavation was solid rock – so we were really hammering down a lot to grade for this building expansion. Paying attention to the names in these areas might give you advance in terms of preliminary preparation.” He advises contractors to also keep an eye out for terms like “spring” and “brook” – spring is more than just a season, he warns. “We’re on a site right now,” says Weber during his interview, “And that’s exactly what we knew we were going to encounter – the road was called Springbrook Road, and surely, there were a lot of underlying springs in the field, which even some of the landowners aren’t aware of.”
BORING CAN BE ANYTHING BUT BORING Rocks don’t just cause lost time due to big equipment demands. They’re also risky. And Stu Frazeur, owner of Stu Frazeur Tiling in Canby, MN, says rocks are one of the first things he tells workers about on their first day. “If you’re running a wheel trencher in rocks, on your very first day, I’d say, ‘Be sure you keep your PPE on,’” says Frazeur. Wheel trenchers have a tendency to throw rocks around, says Frazeur. Standard PPE for wheel trenchers should include head, eye and face-protection, including a fullface shielf for up-close inspections, as well as slip-resistant, steel-toed boots and highvis clothing. Ear and hand safety should also be taken into account. Contractors should also be well familiar with their respective “call before you dig” systems. In the U.S., the standard, nationwide number is 811 – a free service that helps identify underground utilities so contractors can work around them. It is recommended that U.S. contractors make their 811 calls two to three business days before their project begins and provide as many details as possible including equipment descriptions, depth of excavations and GPS coordinates. In Canada, 811 is not the national “call before
you dig” line (it provides nonemergency health advice); instead, all 10 provinces have different toll-free lines. One must provide similar details to the U.S. service, with around five business days’ advanced notice. Eric Layden, owner of Layden Drainage in Hooperton, IL, says safety begins with awareness of standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s standards and practices. Not every practice set out by OSHA is law – OSHA is a federal agency, and some regulations one might find on agricultural or construction worksites differs by state – but OSHA practices are a good start. For example, Layden says, a three-gas monitor around the neck when standing in a confined space is a smart practice. “I wouldn’t say it’s common practice, but that’s the OSHA guideline – especially if you’re going to be down in the bottom of a hole.” Relying on the monitor is crucial, as hydrogen sulfide can neutralize the olfactory senses at 400 PPM, meaning the nose is not a reliable indicator. “The best work is the work that’s done properly,” says Layden.
NOT ALL CRITTERS ARE CUDDLY Layden’s worked with all sorts of customers and seen all sorts of scenes, but he’s also seen every type of critter imaginable. “If it’s not snakes or racoon or fish in the middle of the field, it’s snapping turtles in tile holes.” He’s even encountered a number of “job dogs” – dogs who may or may not have an owner, who show up and hang around, even spending the whole week with the crew – even eating part of your lunch, says Layden. Not all of the animals are as cute as dogs; his crew has had to scoop at least one temperamental snapping turtle out of a tile, and fling a snake or two off a site. But one of his funniest memories came from draining a prairie pothole. “We were probably 1,000 meters from the ditch when my brother picked up a carp that was over a foot long,” says Layden. “The farmer happened to be there to witness – his jaw just dropped. He couldn’t believe that this was in field – it made it all the way there.” Then there are the animals who look cute but could also pose a danger. “One time, I dug a hole. There was existing clay pipe, so
I got down into the hole to look inside it.” Looking into pipes can be done safely and has to be done to look for mud or water – but when he stuck his head in, Layden’s glad he had proper PPE and a quick reaction time. “There was a raccoon looking right at me – about five or six feet away.” Despite their innocent-looking faces, raccoons – even docile or lethargic ones – can pose a risk of rabies. “That got me out of the hole right away,” says Layden. “We broke for lunch – we were wondering if he was still there. But he was gone.”
BUSINESS SHOULDN’T BE BOOMING Mt. Carmel’s Tyler Seals echoes reminders about calling 811 (or whatever jurisdictional call-before-you-dig line is available) but added one caveat: these lines don’t cover private utilities, so even more diligence is needed. “We were installing tile one day – there were oil wells on [the property]. We were right along the road. There was another oil well across the road, but I thought it went to another set of pump jacks. No one said anything about it.” But the next thing Seals knew, there was a big buzz sound followed by a flash – and a big ball of fire. Fortunately, he says, the fireball didn’t last long, and no one was hurt – but the trench stayed on fire. “The trench chain, everything, just sat there burning.” The crew had to shut everything down until things were officially cleared. It turns out the oil went across the road, which Seals didn’t know, even despite more than a decade of familiarity with the property. “It goes to show a person to always double check – just because you think it may be a certain way doesn’t mean it is.” Pump jacks can be found in almost every field in the region, he says, some of which have been there for 70 to 80 years. Where the lines run between the jacks can sometimes be a “guessing game,” he says, so they spend a lot of time dealing with oil companies. The lesson learned? Even “obvious” assumptions can come with a cost. DC Want to read the rest more? Scan the QR code for access to this free e-book – and all of Drainage Contractor’s past digital editions!
NOVEMBER 2026 | DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR 15
READY TO TILE? KNOW WHAT’S BELOW. Each drain tile project is as unique as the land itself. Don’t be surprised by an underground pipeline or utility. Contact 811 or visit www.clickbeforeyoudig.com in the planning process to identify the location of underground pipelines. It’s a free service and only takes about three days.
Formed in 2018, the Drain Tile Safety Coalition is a non-profit dedicated to sharing best practices in safety to reduce the number of accidents resulting from drain tile installation on farms. Learn more at www.draintilesafety.org
© 2023 Drain Tile Safety Coalition
IT HAPPENED TO HIM. IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU.
Watch online at ThreeSecondsLater.org Watch the award-winning, first-person account of a tragic drain tile accident and its impact on a close-knit community.
Always Contact 811 or clickbeforeyoudig.com before starting any drain tile project.
RESEARCH
TO DRAIN OR NOT TO DRAIN? S
That’s not really the question
oil and water quality are no longer optional for a farmer to worry about.
While most farmers agree that sustainability is a positive goal, and that all producers should want to do the right thing and make all efforts possible to do so, they are often met with numerous barriers. by BREE RODY
Some of those barriers are material or logistical – initiatives that protect and promote soil and water health are expensive to implement and red tape can often make otherwise simple transactions complex. But other times, the barrier is more intangible. Various interest groups can push solutions that are biased in one way or another, and other studies or reports can be so nuanced that the ultimate solution becomes a confusing grey area. Tile drainage in particular has been caught in the crosshairs; deemed a controversial practice due to its role in the transport of nutrients from fields to water bodies, it can be difficult to weigh those concerns against the very tangible benefits proven time and time again by research: well-drained fields get higher yield. That’s why a pair of Virginia researchers says it’s not about black-and-white labels of good versus bad – questions like “to drain or not to drain?” aren’t actually useful, they say, because it’s about combining drainage with other practices and finding an ideal combo. In the end, they say, it’s about making the changes you can – however small – while implementing what makes sense, and tackling things from a holistic, multi-faceted approach. Some small changes might work best when done together, they say.
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Think of it like “habit-stacking” – a term made popular by wellness and motivational influencers to describe two or more positive choices performed in coordination with each other to create a doubly productive day. Think listening to an audiobook at the gym, wearing tooth-whitening strips while prepping food or… installing drain tile and cover cropping. Exactly which practices “stack” well together are being tested at Discovery Acres, a multi-state program where farmers host water quality monitoring sites for researchers to produce credible information about effective environmental management that’s compatible with the thing producers ultimately cannot let out of their sight: profitable agriculture. Discovery Acres is executed through a partnership with University of Vermont (UVM), area farmers and the broader Discovery Farms network.
FARMERS WANT LOCAL EXAMPLES Heather Darby, extension associate professor at University of Vermont, says in her area of St. Albans Bay, the farming community knows the pressure is on from regulators and the public to take responsibility for major environmental concerns. She says farmers are of two minds – they want to do the right thing, but feel the tone directed at farmers can come across
as accusatory. “They’re constantly being told how to fix [soil and water problems] and what to do, and at the same time, the scientific data to support what we’re telling them isn’t always there.” She says the farmers don’t doubt the importance, but would like to see more proof when it comes to the implementation of potentially disruptive, expensive activities. “We tell the farmers to cover crop, we tell them to transition to no-till, we tell them to use nutrient management… the farmers’ point is, ‘What is it actually doing? Is it making a difference?” That was the reasoning behind how Discovery Acres began – she and colleague Joshua Faulkner, a fellow extension associate professor, are driven by that push from farmers to deliver the results. “Farmers want science, but they also want local science,” Faulkner adds. “They don’t want decisions being made from five states away, from the Midwest… they want that science to come from Vermont systems, Vermont soils, Vermont climate.” He says while there’ great work done in the Western Lake Erie Basin, there’s not as much similar work done DC_ListowelAgriPipe_May23_MLD.indd 1 ® supporting beneficial practice in the Lake Champlain Basin. According to UVM Extension’s data, roughly 41 percent of total phosphorus load into Lake Champlain comes from agricultural production, and with the basin having heavy clay soils, which don’t drain well, more water and phosphorus run off those soils’ surface. Tile drainage installed beneath the surface can mitigate surface runoff, but subsurface runoff contains phosphorus as well. That’s where the Discovery Acres site – part of the Discovery Farms project, a national, farmer-led project spanning five states – comes in. There are four water monitoring stations spread throughout the field with four distinct watersheds. Each watershed is testing out different management practices, including draining fields versus not draining them. Other practices include tillage versus no-till and broadcastspreading manure versus injecting it. Effects on water quality, soil health, crop yield and more will be studied.
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HOW THE EXPERIMENTS WORK From a water quality perspective, it’s too early to share results, but Faulkner walks Drainage Contractor through the line of thinking, applied through the Discovery Acres philosophy. “At one site, we’re. using the exact same setup – injection versus surface application – and we’re using cover crops with the injection, a no-till with the injection, no cover crops and conventional tillage on the other side.” This mix-and-match experiment is around four years in, and Faulkner says the team is seeing “promising results” roughly half of the total P concentration at the end of the field. How much of those results can be attributed to manure
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management? Faulkner says that’s not the point. “I don’t think we can solely attribute it to the manure management, because there are those other practices that go along with it. We’re stacking practices, which is where I think we need to go instead of just saying one particular thing [is the solution] because that’s not what farmers are actually doing.” Besides the yield and quality of the crop – Darby says forages are being studied – the group is also looking at the biomass of the cover crop. With the tile drainage project, they’re also looking at economics and ROI.
DRAINAGE IN VERMONT Darby says while there are no solid numbers on it, drainage in the area has “really grown in the past 10 to 15 years.” During her grad school years, Darby worked with a New York State drainage specialist who said that despite their close proximity, Vermont was historically thought of as too difficult to drain because of its heavy clay soils. She – and the industry – know now, “That was never true, and people started trying it.” Drainage water management structures – which can control, limit or taper the flow of drainage in times
of climate variability – are installed on Discovery Acres. Faulkner says it was “something that was nice to do with the construction and installation of the tile.” However, he adds that despite the novelty of the structures, they want to focus – for now – on high-level drainage concepts: drained land versus undrained land. This will help them better understand the BMPs required for tile-drained fields in the state. “At some other sites, we do have some end-of-tile filters that we’ve been monitoring for more than three years” he adds. The results so far are “fantastic”: 70 percent phosphorus removal.
POSITIVE OBSERVATIONS “One of the things we have observed is that farmers who are traditionally very apprehensive to using no-till practices are those farms that are on heavy clay soils,” she explains. “We have seen that farmers are able to transition to no-till on clay and get not just adequate yields but [also] better yields than their conventional practices.” She says the cover crop’s biomass production could also be a detriment. “Last year, it produced too much biomass and supressed the yields on the plots that had tile.”
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That kind of discovery isn’t a failure, says Darby. “It’s the combination of the practices together on both sides – the combination of the practices helps to enhance crop productivity while at the same time protecting the environment.” Darby says farmers are, understandably, frustrated with “trying to justify how we’re producing food to minimize both risk of failure and risk to the environment.” At the end of the day, she says, that’s what farmers are trying to do, and public discourse on divisive or misunderstood practices like manure application and tile drainage can feel alienating to producers. “It feels like a moving target, as the weather doesn’t give us any consistency and more, even I research.” Faulkner adds that it’s important for everyone – including detractors – to understand that “this is not brandnew, scary technology.” Tile drainage, he reminds readers, has been around since the 1800s, and other practices have as well – for example, manure application is as old as manure itself. “The climate is changing, we’re having more of these events that farmers are scrambling to respond to,” he says. DC
Image courtesy of University of Vermont Extension
Joshua Faulkner, left, working on phosphorus research in Addison County
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND DESIGN
A NOT-SOSLIPPERY SLOPE
Could new research increase adoption of saturated buffers?
S
Image courtesy of Ehsan Ghane
ince farmers, agriculturalists and contractors are always looking for ways to minimize nitrate loss from tile-drained fields.
A recent Michigan State University study suggests that saturated buffers may have more efficiency in that area than first imagined. The answer lies in the slope angle: for the past 15 years, previously determined guidelines established by the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) planning tool maintained that anything less than a slant between two and eight percent tilted toward the drainage ditch adjacent to the subsurface vegetative buffer was less suitable when it came to reducing harmful water nitrate. However, an eight-year field measurement analysis conducted by Ehsan Ghane, associate professor in biosystems and agricultural engineering at Michigan State University, contradicts that viewpoint: he discovered that saturated buffers on a tile-drained field with a slope of 1.1 percent achieve a nitrate load reduction of 55 percent. The study also found that the saturated buffer resulted in a reduced discharge of 45 percent. “This was the first study to measure actual saturated buffer performance flow using a paired-field design,” Ghane tells Drainage Contractor. “We were able to dissect the system into two parts – comparing the controlled drainage and the subsurface buffer flow components to
by Nick Krewen
A vector showcasing how agricultural water flows through a saturated buffer system.
free drainage - which no one had ever done. It’s useful to know that the system has a controlled drainage power component – which manages the amount of water exiting the field though tile drains - and a subsurface buffer flow component – which treats the water as it moves through the soil.” The function of the vegetated buffer is to divert drainage water before entering surface water, resulting in “denitrification,” the natural process turns nitrate into a harmless nitrogen gas through microbial conversion “We take that water that’s coming under the ground in the perforated pipe system of the drainage system; divert that pipe sideways along the length of
the buffer strip - which is at the edge of the stream or a ditch,” he explains. “The water wants to leave the pipe and go to the lower elevation, which is the ditch – and as it comes out of those pipes through several feet of soil, the biological activity will take care of the nitrate.” And that’s not the only harmful nitrate it impacts. Ghane says the updated discovery is especially good news for practitioners, whom he says can refine saturated buffer siting guidelines to better reflect field conditions – and in turn, could open “millions of acres of land” to saturated buffer installation. “When contractor water professionals design these systems and evaluate a suitNOVEMBER 2026 | DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR 21
ability of a site of a farm, they won’t be turned away because the field slope is 1.2 per cent,” he said. “It will open the door for more suitable sites, given that there are a growing number of cost-sharing initiatives and partnerships in some Midwest states.” That wasn’t the only eye-opener revealed by the field data. Since both a ditch and banks are needed for the conservation drainage method, Ghane also discovered that streambank stability “may be site-dependent rather than depth-dependent.” According to the National Resources Conversation Services (NRCS), that depth is 8 feet, with potential instability tied to the formation of a seepage face, where the water table tops the water level in the ditch. “There’s a requirement that the ditches where these saturated buffers are installed have to be below a certain height,” Ghane explains. “It’s really all about bank stability and the stream banks slumping back in. If the bank is too tall, it may just collapse into the ditch. “But we found that it may be site spe-
cific: a certain site with a certain soil may be an issue, but it’s not something that is standard across the board. Overall, more research is needed.” The reason his research took eight years? “We did it the accurate way,” he explains. “Because of the experimental design, it gave us more valuable information that we couldn’t have gotten if we had taken only two years to do it.” Ghane says his research can be utilized through a couple of MSU tools that cover controlled drainage and saturated buffer, that lists the water quality benefits and estimates the costs associated with sloping, covering the Northeastern States “from Maine to the Dakotas and south to Virginia. “You can access the tool at Michigan State and look at such a buffer suitability performance design and many of the things related to saturated buffers: It covers a large region and the tool is free. This is what you use to determine that a slope of 1.1 percent could achieve like 55 percent nitrate load reduction.” Ghane’s research also found that weir
depth made a huge difference in nitrate load removal, with high-level weir settings eliminating 115 percent more nitrate than low-level setting. As much as this new reassessment will free up acres of land for practitioners, the matter of financial incentive is always one that concerns producers and practitioners alike – such systems don’t come cheap, and with data on ROI still limited, it takes some convincing for landowners to take the leap into the investment. Ghane says he’s currently unaware of new financial incentives for this conservation practices, but there are currently existing programs offered by both the federal government and the National Resource Conservation Service. Ghane also said that he expects to learn from future responses as people become aware of – and utilize – the tools on the MSU site. “These results suggest that moderately sloped fields can still offer substantial water‑quality benefits,” says Ghane. “We’ve increased the opportunity of saturated buffers to be placed on more land.” DC
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CONVERSATIONS
A WHOLE NEW ANGLE
Catching up with the new LICA CEO
“It’s water management,” explains Mikula. “It’s property to property and every property is a little different. The type of work we do is based on groundwater foundations.” Mikula says that he learned everything he knows about the drainage business from his father and his grandfather. Mikula’s grandfather passed away when he was only ten but instilled many lessons in him about the value of hard work by that tender age. “He started our business coming out of World War II,” says Mikula. “He started with a pickup truck and a hand shovel and dug a lot of foundation and different underground utilities by hand and it grew through the years. He’s somebody that persevered through tough times back then and built the foundation.” Mikula was able to benefit from his father’s influence far longer, until he passed away only a few years ago. He credits his father with impressing upon him how important it was to treat people with respect and professionalism. He says it didn’t matter if you were a client, an employee, a family member or a friend, everyone was treated with the same respect and he held an open-door policy, keeping himself accessible to the members of his company.
by MATT JONES
On site with Mikula Contracting in New Jersey.
24 DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR | NOVEMBER 2026
Image courtesy of Dennis Mikula, JR.
M
ikula Contracting goes back all the way to 1946, and the grandfather of CEO Dennis Mikula. The New Jersey company started with land-clearing as a focus, but over time came to specialize in drainage on residential, commercial or industrial properties.
“I am blessed to have learned from both of them and I’m trying to carry their lessons on. It was such a positive, growing up in that environment; a family-oriented and people-oriented business has helped me judge the way I lead today.” Now the first-ever CEO of the Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA), Mikula reflects on his business, values and what he hopes to pass on to the LICA membership.
A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE While many of LICA’s members in the drainage industry specialize in agricultural drainage, Mikula Contracting specializes less in farm fields than in other major aspects of infrastructure and water management – but there are plenty of key lessons learned from these focuses. One of the key things the business focuses on is stormwater management. As one builds more infrastructure – and many properties are landlocked – the question always becomes where does that water go? And that question is further complicated by the logistic realities of permitting, underground utilities and whether drainage from one property DC_AgriDrain_May26_CSA.indd 1 2026-04-07 2:26 PM is becoming a burden on another. “You’re looking at some sites that are under an acre and you’re changing the elevation, you’re changing the grade. You’re building on top of areas where water is run – how do you take that, and how do you redirect it to be efficient and effective for that person’s property without causing an issue on somebody else’s.” Environmental concerns also come into play, particularly in New Jersey, says Mikula. Former warehouses or other industry sites being converted into residential properties are common, and whatever industrial run off made it into the property’s groundwater has to be cleaned up. Much of Mikula Contracting’s work involves putting in seepage pits to collect water on site, drainage systems to disperse water into an appropriate area. “Each job is specific,” explains Mikula when asked whether the company coordinates with other contractors on some of the work. “Our company handles putting in seepage pits, if it’s a different, more sophisticated drainage system we may work alongside other companies. We might just be doing the excavation work while they’re designing and creating the systems. We’re the hired contractor to come in and make sure • Install smooth wall pipe from 12” to 36” the plan works. We’re not a design firm where we’re designing the drainage systems. We’re implementing them on the • Rounded bottom for proper tile support property and making sure they’re working and connected the • Automatic laser grade or GPS control correct way.” • Hydraulic pushers for coupling of tile On the topic of what makes Mikula Contracting stand out compared to others in the drainage sector, Mikula notes that Also check out our website for our the company does a lot of environmental work in the state, other drainage products. including working with environmental consultants. In terms of logistics, the business is based in Clifton, New Jersey and has more than 20 employees at any given time and a fleet of between 30 to 40 different vehicles. Those vehicles include everything from excavators, backhoes, dozers, triaxles, dump trucks and tandems, a fleet of trailers to move everything around and service trucks to keep them all running.
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But those close quarters also emphasize the importance of the work they’re doing. On a smaller property, the impacts of an ineffective drainage system will be felt more acutely.
PLANNING FOR CHANGE
Am example of the type of water management infrastructure installed by Mikula Contracting, where things are a bit tighter than in agricultural fields.
The vehicles and other equipment come from a variety of manufacturers, including Caterpillar, Case and John Deere. The business’s own property houses their offices, as well as sites to repair and maintain their equipment and to stage their vehicles to prepare for their next job. “I’m dealing with smaller land issues out here,” says Mikula. “A lot of times you can’t stage on the property. We have enough area, we’re able to hold things and bring it to the site as needed.” Indeed, the cramped logistics of the job sites is one of the conditions that makes the job challenging. Mikula goes as far as to express envy for drainage contractors who work on agricultural projects – “I’d love to work on some of those farms where it’s just acres and acres…a little more elbow room.”
Although Mikula has less “elbow room” than his farm fieldbased brethren, he understands all too well what many businesses are facing: questions about the future and succession planning. For now, Mikula Contracting continues to be a family business – Dennis’ younger brother also serves as company president. Looking to the future, Dennis has a 13-year-old daughter who could someday become involved, but Mikula says he wants her to create her own path. He would certainly be happy if that path led her back to the family business though. “One of the things that we pride ourselves on is that whether she ever comes into the business or doesn’t, we’ve built a business over the years that she would be proud to be a part of and/or want to replicate, if she started her own business elsewhere in a different field. She didn’t know my grandfather, but until my father passed a few years ago, she was able to see the type of person he is. When she showed up to the office, his world would stop. But he would do that not only with her, she would see him do that with anybody. When they came into the office, they were the most important person in the world, no matter what he had going on.” On that note, one of the things that Mikula says he’s most proud of is that the company was honored in 2020 by The Rothman Institute’s New Jersey Family Business of the Year awards. The Institute specifically cited the company’s work ‘exploring ways to simplify company operations, while maximizing efficiency and maintaining high quality through communication and new technologies.’ Mikula attributes the award to those same lessons he learned from his father and grandfather – a hard work ethic and treating people with respect. “The employees have as much tenure as some family members, if not longer,” says Mikula. “That’s something that we really have taken pride in. We have customers who I consider partners, not even customers or clients, that have been with us for three generations and I think that’s important.” Having served in his capacity with LICA since the beginning of this year – a progression after spending time as president of the New Jersey chapter’s board of directors – Mikula is now learning the ropes on various types of drainage, and is looking forward to bridging gaps and advocating for all aspects of the industry. “It’s been a great opportunity and a tremendous honour to see the different types of drainage and different things that are going on, and how we can all work together to help all of our businesses,” says Mikula. “We represent about 2,500 contractors right now nationwide, which is great. It’s been an opportunity to lead something outside of the family business and it gives me an opportunity to give back to an industry that’s been great to us. It gives me an opportunity to really get out there and educate and advocate for our businesses nationwide.” DC
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PRINSCO 1717 16th Street NE, Willmar, MN, 56201, USA Tel: 320-222-6800 Toll free: 800-992-1725 e-mail: prinscoinfo@prinsco.com Website: prinsco.com X: x.com/PrinscoInc Facebook: facebook.com/PrinscoInc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/prinsco-incDescription: Prinsco is a fourth-generation, family-owned business driven by our values and dedicated to the success of drainage contractors and farmers. We provide high-quality pipe you can count on and unparalleled service from people you can trust. Everything we do is built on the foundation of our values - Relationships, Integrity, Humility, and Hard Work. That’s the Prinsco Difference.
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NOVEMBER 2026 | DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR 27
LICO UPDATE
Fighting phrag in Ontario
By Mel Luymes
M
ost Ontario drainage contractors and farmers would have come across phragmites by now – whether they knew its name or not. They are tall, dense plants with beautiful seed heads. Perhaps brought here from Europe as an ornamental plant, Phragmites australis is extremely invasive. Phragmites (pronounced frag-MY-tees, sometimes phrag for short) was identified as Canada’s worst invasive species by Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada back in 2005. Those are some strong words considering some of its contenders: purple loosestrife, wild parsnip, garlic mustard and many more in the plant department; zebra mussels and emerald ash borer in the critters category. While there was some research happening behind the scenes, phragmites kept on spreading. It has now taken over wetlands, shorelines, roadside ditches, and drains – plugging drains, encroaching on fields and lawns, causing fires that have destroyed homes, and reducing visibility at intersections, leading to several vehicle collisions.
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Ignoring it is not an option. Yet many in Ontario, especially inland, are only hearing about it now. But once you know what it is, you’ll see it everywhere. Dr. Janice Gilbert, founder of the Invasive Phragmites Control Centre, has been fighting the plant ever since she found it in Rondeau Bay while conducting a wetland evaluation. Dr. Gilbert spoke to a room packed full of drainage contractors this past January at the Drainage Conference. Despite blizzard conditions, nearly 400 drainage contractors, engineers, superintendents, suppliers and even a few farmers came out to the Lamplighter Inn in London, ON for LICO’s 66th annual conference in conjunction with the Drainage Superintendents Association of Ontario (DSAO). While phragmites has been a theme for the DSAO’s program – last year, Kyle Borrowman from the Nature Conservancy of Canada spoke about funding for management programs – phragmites has also become a major issue on
Images courtesy of NCC
Invasive phragmites in Long Point, ON
private property and is impacting drainage contractors as well. Phragmites spreads through its underground rhizomes (running up to 30 feet), by seed, or from any node of its stem. It is often transported through waterways or on contractors’ equipment. It is critical to clean equipment between jobs, and Gilbert warned this is likely to soon become part of standard operations – especially for municipal and other government jobs. In terms of eradication, however, cutting alone just makes it stronger, so control requires a long-term commitment. “Cut to drown” – cutting the plant underwater – can be quite effective, so long as the cut stays below the waterline. On wet or dry land, however, the most effective technique is herbicide application. Many phragmites populations have evolved to be glyphosate-resistant, so Gilbert shared her recommended mix, which includes a glyphosate–imazapyr product at a fivepercent concentration, with a methylated seed oil surfactant at one percent, and a recommended application rate of five litres per hectare. She also noted that water pH is important and needs to be slightly acidic. Timing for spraying is counter intuitive. Instead of applying to small, actively growing plants, phragmites should be sprayed when the plant has the greatest amount of leaf surface (at least five feet tall) before it dies off naturally – between June and October. Dr. Gilbert also discussed opportunities for drones in the fight against phragmites
Kyle Borrowman, Nature Conservancy of Canada, with phragmites in Point Pelee, ON
– not only for visualizing the extent of a stand and spraying it (once the proper licences are in place, mind you), but also for seeding a mix that will establish quickly to prevent phragmites from re-establishing. Peter Johnson, LICO’s environmental advocate, was quick to point out that annual ryegrass should not be included in that mix, as it is also invasive and glyphosate resistant. Dr. Gilbert noted that phragmites is easiest to eliminate when it is just a small stand. It may look harmless at first, but in the next year or two it can be everywhere. She also emphasized that control measures
need to be more tenacious than the plant itself. Phragmites thrives on neglect, so cutting or spraying it once will not achieve control. For the last years, there has been funding available to support phragmites control in various management areas – $11 million from the Ministry of Natural Resources (2024–2026). Contractors and farmers can speak with their municipalities, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, or their local Conservation Authorities about accessing this funding. DC
2064 Republic Ave • Monroe, IA 50170
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FROM THE ADMC
The next generation of drainage: Design it. Incorporate it. Manage it. Example of a multi-purpose drainage management system by ISG in Martin County, MN.
D
rainage’s Role in Agricultural Productivity Agricultural drainage has played a fundamental role in farming across the United States and Canada. In the Midwest, it helped transform wet, difficult acres into some of the most productive agricultural land in the world. For generations, drainage contractors have helped farmers create healthier root zones by drying and warming the soil. That contribution deserves recognition for the reliable and profitable food, fuel, and fiber it has helped agriculture produce. The drainage industry now has an opportunity to do more than showcase what has already been accomplished. It can define the role drainage will play for future generations of farmers. Farmers will be asked to maintain high levels of production while adapting to more variable weather and operating in increasingly environmentally efficient ways. Meeting those demands will require drainage systems to be planned and installed with greater intention. Nutrient movement, specifically nitrate, may shape how farmers are allowed to utilize drainage. That challenge does not mean agriculture needs less drainage. It means drainage must be part of a systematic water-management strategy. The good news is that ADMC, its members, 30 DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR | NOVEMBER 2026
and partners have been working to set water management up for future success. That work helps shift the conversation from installing drainage to moving water from the field as quickly as possible to designing, incorporating, and managing systems that serve production and water-quality goals.
DESIGN, INCORPORATE AND MANAGE FRAMEWORK
The next generation of drainage should be built around three connected priorities: Design: Install systems that account for soils, topography, outlet capacity, cropping systems, and long-term landowner goals. Incorporate: Align the benefits of drainage with the in-field management decisions. Manage: Shift the mindset from getting water off of the field as quickly as possible to control when it drains, where it goes, and what happens along the way. A properly designed, operated, and managed drainage network can: • Improve productivity • Manage water levels • Store water • Reuse water • Reduce nutrient losses • Build resilience to extreme weather • Design for Today and Tomorrow
Image courtesy of the ADMC.
by Keegan Kult
Good drainage starts with good design. A well-designed system should meet today’s needs while also anticipating future demands, such as added capacity or the ability to manage when and how water leaves the field. Strong drainage design should account for: • Soils and topography • Main and outlet capacity • Cropping systems • Current and future management goals • The landowner’s long-term objectives To learn more about drainage design, contractors should look to their local drainage schools hosted by many state university extension programs.
INCORPORATE DRAINAGE INTO FIELD DECISIONS
Farmers should also consider how a properly designed drainage system can change the way they operate in the field. The question should move beyond, “Is the field drained?” and toward, “How can this system help us manage the field more effectively?”
By increasing the number of workable field days, drainage can improve timing for field operations and create more flexibility during narrow weather windows. It can also support soil-health practices such as reduced tillage, no-till, and cover crops by making those systems easier to manage and productive. Drainage can also influence fertility decisions. Farmers may work with their agronomists to evaluate how improved drainage affects nitrogen-use efficiency, application timing, and the overall fertility program. In some cases, better drainage management can reduce year-to-year variability and help identify opportunities to use fertilizer more efficiently. When nitrate loss is a resource concern, that same intentional approach becomes even more important. Appropriate 4R (right time, right place, right source, right rate) nutrient stewardship practices should be considered, such as shifting from fall to spring or split nitrogen applications, using nitrogen inhibitors, and adding cover crops where they fit the field and management system.
MANAGE THE SYSTEM
The final step is managing the system to provide greater control and outcomes. The management component is what has been referred to as conservation drainage practices. These practices include: • Automated drainage water management • Drainage water recycling • Saturated buffers • Denitrifying bioreactors • Phosphorus removal structures • Part of the Solution The Design, Incorporate, and Manage framework offers a practical way to think about the next generation of drainage. By designing systems with future needs in mind, incorporating drainage into in-field decisions, and managing water after it leaves the field, the industry can help farmers stay productive, adapt to changing conditions, and address water-quality concerns. Done well, drainage is not at odds with water quality; it becomes part of the solution. DC Keegan Kult is based in Iowa and has worked in agricultural water management for more than 15 years, contributing to more than 80 edge-of-field installations.
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NOVEMBER 2026 | DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR 31 DC_Haviland_May23_CSA.indd 1
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EQUIPMENT NEWS MASTENBROEK UNVEILS UPGRADES TO 20/15 TRENCHER LINE U.K.-based manufacturer Mastenbroek, which specializes in selfpropelled drainage and utility trenchers, has unveiled a raft of improvements to its popular 20/15 machine, first introduced in 1981. The 20/15 specializes in agricultural laterals and collectors, and cross-country applications. The 2026 upgrade brings a host of new features to the trencher focused on performance, operator experience and servicing access. Powered by a 315hp Volvo D8 EU Stage 5 and USA EPA Tier 4 Final certified engine, the new machine weighs in at just 20 tonnes and can trench at a depth of up to 2.5 meters. Mastenbroek has added a full-length walkway to the machine, providing three points-ofcontact access to the engine fluid housing, the hydraulic cooler with its reversing fan to automatically clean the outside of the screen, and the digging mechanism, which has been strengthened in the latest upgrades. A second walkway has been installed, allowing people to safely cross the machine and giving easy access to both sides and to and from the cab, which also boasts new features: already known for comfort, air conditioning and exceptional visibility, the ROPScertified cab can now be raised half a metre upwards and up to 15 centimeters outward to give a clear view of the digging mechanism. The operator controls the machine via joysticks mounted on the heated seat with air suspension chair, with the left-side stick controlling the digging mechanism and the right-side looking after
the track drive. A rail-mounted HMI screen, loaded with Mastenbroek’s machine control system, enables convenient positioning and easy access to feature controls. Toolboxes are mounted next to the engine and hydraulic bays, accessible through large, lockable doors A further improvement means the entire engine canoby can now be removed when major servicing is required. DC
BRON EXPANDS IN ONTARIO, MINNESOTA
Plow specialist RWF Bron is expecting completion in 2026 on its expanded facility in Woodstock, ON. The 30,000 square-foot addition will bring overall space to more than 95,000 square feet. Designed with “both people and purpose in mind,” according to the company, the expansion will allow Bron to support growing demand while improving day-to-day operations. It will achieve these goals through dedicated warehouse capacity for parts and storage and a purpose-build assembly area. By relocating assembly into a separate environment from fabrication, the facility will benefit from improved organization, efficiency and product quality. It’s the second expansion in as many years for Bron, which is also growing stateside. The addition of a 7,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in LeRoy, MN completed in 2025 and is now supplying customers with local, U.S.-made manufactured parts while serving customers with quicker delivery time. DC
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LICA’S VIEW
The times, they are a-changin’ by Steven Anderson
O
ne of the few positive aspects of growing older is that of perspective. If you keep your eyes open and stay aware you can take in all the changes that occur over time. Some examples in my own life. For instance, while I was a little behind the conversion from horses to internal and external combustion, there have certainly been other changes over time. I started my earthmoving career using optical grade devices. Worked well but required two people which was often a hinderance to productivity. Then lasers made their appearance which speeded up the process of checking things as well as taking away the need for a rod man. Then came RTK revolution – and I remember jumping on that very quickly, as given the size of our small company, we knew that it could increase production so dramatically with the time saved on survey work, line location, etc. We knew it was poised to pay for itself in less than a year. Oh, and I do remember the use of targets in tiling. I can just imagine those old boys marveling at today’s systems of grade and machine control and the precision they hold. By now if you are still reading, then you might be asking, “Just what is your point?” The point is there is one constant in life, and that is life changes and it pays to keep up with it. In LICA we to are trying to change so things to take advantage of the trends. One of those trends is a decline in association involvements. In today’s busy world, we often find there is not enough time to get done what needs done. In my own case I think this is more a lack of energy in my old age and the speed I operate at anymore. This past summer, instead of a physical, in-person meeting for summer, it was all held via online meetings which allowed many to attend without the cost for one, and without the schedule conflicts that packing all the committee meetings into a couple days brings about – so that you could attend any
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committee meeting. This was pulled off fairly admirably, but not with the desired new faces for which we had hoped. Still, it was the cost savings and scheduling success we’d wanted. While this member – yes, I am this year’s LICA president, but I am also a member – feels something is missed without the in-person event, it seems the writing is on the wall about the future of trade associations giving the wealth of information readily available at the touch of a few keys on the computer – or even, these days, a phone. Fear not: the annual winter convention is still going on though in sunny Arizona at a very nice inclusive resort – a great place to plan a winter vacation around. There will be information to be gained, hopefully a chance to check out new Deeres at the proving ground, time to attend to the business of LICA, and maybe even go out to a spring training game where someone of my age can observe another trend that bothers me to no end – the total lack of fundamental understanding of the game of baseball by today’s young prospects. Give me a smart average physical specimen over the stupid athletic phenom any day of the weak. Sorry – getting off the point there. This is all to say how much I have enjoyed the winter convention ever since I attended my first one over 25 years ago, and I haven’t missed one since. You can learn a lot hanging out amongst experts and using your ears instead of your mouth. I’ve picked up many a good way of doing things. I’ve learned about small businesses to provide what I can’t find locally. I’ve made contacts and friends to whom I can drop in and say hello while on one of my cross-country – my own quest to see what lies over the horizon. That, in many ways, was the drive that built this wonderful country: that desire to see what lies over the horizon whether it be land or in business. And may the freedom to do that always continue. DC
Mastenbroek Ltd UK Tel: +44 1205 311313 info@mastenbroek.com www.mastenbroek.com
Manufacturer of Hydramaxx Distributor of Mastenbroek in USA Port Industries (573)769-3338 www.portindustries.com hydramaxxsales@portind.com 802 Industrial Dr, Palmyra, MO 63461