North Dakota State University Extension’s annual Tile Drainage Design Workshop is set for Feb. 26 in the meeting room of the Ramsey County Courthouse in Devils Lake, N.D.

“The design workshop is intended for those interested in a more complete understanding of the planning and design principles and practices for drainage, subirrigation and water table management,” says Hans Kandel, NDSU Extension agronomist and workshop co-organizer. “Participants in the past included agricultural producers, landowners, consultants, drainage contractors, government agency staff and water resource managers.”

The workshop will focus on the planning and design of agricultural tile drainage systems, including water management structures and lift stations, to meet profitability and environmental objectives. The course content is taught in modules with emphasis on hands-on learning and ample time for discussions.

Other workshop topics are:

• Drainage, soils and agronomic considerations
• Drainage design fundamentals
• Online drainage tools
• Hands-on drainage design project
• Team drainage project
• Lift stations and subirrigation options

“Designing a tile system is critical,” says Tom Scherer, NDSU Extension agricultural engineer and the workshop’s other organizer. “Water management includes managing the amount of water that is leaving the field via subsurface tile. However, pumps and control structures can be utilized to manage the outflow of water from the tile line.”

Kandel adds: “Most of our agricultural crops do not thrive in saturated conditions. Managing the excess water is crucial for optimal crop production. A tiled field with the option to control the water table will give farmers tools to reduce production risk due to excess water.”

The early registration fee is $50, which includes materials and lunch. The registration deadline is Feb. 24. The workshop is limited to 50 participants. Due to seating limitations, on-site registration will not be available on the day of the event.

Visit https://bit.ly/2RO6rJx to register for the workshop.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Jan. 20, 2019