06/23/2025
Every farm landowner knows that drainage and tile are very important to a great crop. Spring 2025 in west central Indiana has been very wet and not our typical spring farming season.
Many factors will contribute to a great crop this year. Soil type, seed selection, chemical selection, weather, and good drainage and tile will all be a factor.
Today, Sunday June 22nd we took a drive and looked at crops. As we drove around Vigo, Sullivan, Knox, Clay and Daviess counties in Indiana. I drove by fields we had pattern tiled over the years and took pictures of crops in the fields. I also looked at fields that were either next to, across the road or just down the road of some of these farms, and took pictures of some of these also.
Being in this business for over 30 years I know the area, I look at most every farm I drive by. What would make that farm better?? Which way would the tile drain in that field?? Why is standing water or drowned out places here and not there?? What would I do to control that washout or gully?? I have committed my whole life to drainage and conservation and I enjoy working for the land owners, the farmers, and the land managers. This is all I have ever wanted to do. And all I will ever do!!
These pictures have nothing to do with farm practices, how well someone farms or does not farm…. As everyone knows timing is everything. Most all of these crops have had many inches of rain on them. Maybe the night they were planted, maybe a week after they were planted. I do not know. I only know where drainage systems were installed, who installed them and I know the fields that do not have great drainage or no drainage systems installed.
All pictures are numbered and lettered. If there is an A in the picture, it has a drainage system installed on either a 30,40, or 50 ft spacing. If the picture has an B. It is either across the road, next to the drained field or just right down the road.
