Farmers study tile drainage

After nearly two decades of wet fields and reduced yields, tile drainage appeals to a growing number of area farmers.

Tile drainage was among the topics at the Northwest Farm Managers Association's annual meeting today in Fargo. About 200 people attended.

"There's more interest in tile drainage, that's for sure," said Mark Ekre, a Hawley, Minn., farmer and association president.

Tile drainage involves installing underground pipes in fields to regulate subsurface water and help plant roots develop properly.

The Red River Valley has had above-average precipitation since the early 1990s, hurting yields, and tile drainage is a viable solution, said Hans Kandel, a North Dakota State University agronomist.

Read more in Thursday's Forum.