Episode Description

Who makes the decisions when it comes to implementing conservation practices on rented farmland? Ruth McCabe, Heartland Co-op Conservation Manager, discusses the pivotal role of non-operating landowners in conservation decisions on rented farmland. Listen in as Jamie and Ruth discuss the spectrum of landowner engagement and how to encourage land stewardship across the board.

Chapters:

00:00Welcome to The Water Table

01:01Working with tenant farmers

01:25The perspective of landowners

02:30Letting landowners off the hook?

03:30Generations removed from farming

04:45Preventing soil loss, and cleaning water

05:38In-field conservation vs. edge-of-field conservation 

08:18What trips their trigger?

09:04Erosion and incentivizing conservation practices

Related content:

• #127 | Cover Crops and No-Till: A Conservationist’s Perspective
• #56 | A More Efficient Approach to Water Quality: Batch and Build
• #52 | An Ag Economist Tells All: Critical Topics Impacting the Future of Agriculture
• Heartland Co-op 

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Cover crops and no-till… How will they impact your bottom line? We’re joined by fan-favorite and Conservation Manager, Ruth McCabe, to dig into the benefits and drawbacks of these increasingly popular conservation practices. We're tackling the tough questions: Do cover crops boost yields? How do they affect soil health? Why are these practices being adopted from Iowa to Minnesota and beyond? This is the first of several insightful conversations with Ruth you won't want to miss!

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome Ruth McCabe

01:00 What is going on at Heartland Co-op and Beyond?

04:41 Cover Crops

05:51 Ruth's Experience and a Balanced View of Cover Crops 

08:33 Regional Differences in Cover Crop Adoption 

11:29 Benefits and Considerations for Cover Crop Use 

14:00 The Leaky Root

16:26 Warming up the Soil

18:52 No-till + Cover Crops = So Many Bonuses

20:43 The Learning Curve and Potential Yield Impact of New Practices

22:00 Short-Term Yield Hits, Long-Term Benefits

23:52 Guidance is Key

Related content:

• Episode 82: Getting #%@$ Done in Iowa With Batch and Build…On the Road
• Episode 104: Worldwide Conservation, Water Quality and Woody Harrelson
• Subsurface Drainage and Soil Temps
• Heartland Co-Op

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What does it mean to build a legacy that honors both family and the land? Mother-son duo Pattie and Tim Krengel of Krengel Brothers Tiling came from humble beginnings in Mapleton, Minnesota. Their story is one of breaking barriers, serving the community, and teaching the next generation to be good stewards of the land. Uncover the deep roots of their family business in rural America in this episode. 

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:38 Starting Krengel Brothers Tiling
04:30 Pattie’s role
07:08 Samson the dog
10:18 Expanding the business
14:13 Tim's Early Involvement
16:10 Pattie's morning routine
19:26 Pattie's Place
24:53 Tim joins the business
30:46 Remembering Harold
34:39 A love for the outdoors
41:04 Pattie's achievements
44:44 LICA trips & friendships
50:09 What drives Pattie
52:16 Importance of community
1:00:46 Advice from Pattie
1:02:37 Growing up in Mapleton
1:04:45 Pattie and Harold
1:06:01 Appreciation
1:13:31 Closing remarks

Related Content:

• #118 | Accidental Advocate for the Drainage Industry
• #22 | The Evolution of Drainage: A Journalist’s Perspective
• #13 | Advocacy & Water Management Practices
• #9 | Behind the LICA Creed: “All Wealth is Generated By the Land” 

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What happens when decades of conservation experience meets cutting-edge technology? Kent Bohnhoff, retired Illinois grain farmer and former NRCS district conservationist, recently received a grant from One Good Idea to implement automated drainage water management systems on his land. Hear Kent’s unique perspective gained from over 30 years in agricultural conservation, and why he believes the system will benefit both crop yields and water quality.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction 

00:36 A Long History in Farming and Conservation

01:59 Connecting Farming Passion with a Career at the NRCS

05:03 Satisfaction from Helping Farmers Implement Conservation

08:15 Technological Advancements in Agriculture and Drainage Over 30 Years

11:19 Family Farming Legacy and Future Involvement

12:36One Good Idea Grant

13:51 Initial Observations and Benefits of the Automated System

15:53 The Importance of Water Storage and Slowing Down Runoff

16:46 Landscape Changes and the Role of Conservation Practices

17:47 Looking to the Future and Benefits for the Next Generation

18:42 Staying in Touch and the Impact of Drought

19:38 Closing Remarks

Related content:

• Best Practices: Drainage Water Recycling
• #120 | One Good Idea: An Educational Clearinghouse for Farmers
• #113 | Drainage Water Recycling: Creating Resiliency Amidst Dwindling Resources
• #71 | Is Drainage Infrastructure More Valuable Than Underground Transit?

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What do tariffs mean for relations between the U.S. and Canada? Toban Dyck, an Ag Journalist and fifth-generation grain farmer from Winkler, Manitoba, joins us for a conversation about the ripple effect of tariffs on agriculture. Toban breaks down the importance of strong relationships, communication amidst uncertainty, and how Canadian producers and U.S. importers may be impacted. 

Chapters:

00:00  Introduction: Toban Dyck & Tariffs

03:04  Understanding Tariffs: A Basic Explanation

04:36  The Devastating Effects on Canadian Markets

07:46  Potash and Manufacturing: Key Trade Factors

11:10  Seeking New Markets: Canada's Response

14:04  The Great Plains: A Borderless Agricultural Region

16:24  Maintaining Strong Relationships

17:35  Government Changes and Responses

19:58  Finding the Silver Lining: Wake-Up Call for Markets

21:44  Toban's Family History: Fifth-Generation Farmer

24:12  Farm Evolution: From Livestock to Grain

26:13  Returning to the Family Farm

27:24  Family and Farm Life

28:53  The Uncertainty of Tariffs: How Long Will They Last?

30:35  Hopeful Connections and DC Lobbying

31:27  Seeking Resolution: Value of U.S. and Canadian Relations

32:19  Closing Remarks

Related Content:

• #122 | Drainage in Ontario: Balancing Agriculture & the Environment
• #34 | The Birth of an Industry, Eh?
• #54 | Building Wealth Through Tiling; Insights from Canada’s Original Installer
• #8 | Cause & Effect: Plastic Resin Supply
• Burr Forest Group

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Jamie and Karl are in the hot seat on this live episode of The Water Table Podcast. From questions about the future of water management and drainage water recycling to what they would ask President Trump about agriculture, Jamie and Karl tackle it all in front of an audience of drainage contractors. Live, unedited, and unpredictable... What’s on the minds of folks in our industry?

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
04:56 Welcome!
05:20Prinsco Drainage School
06:45How to explain the environmental impact of drainage?
08:45The point of The Water Table
10:10A rural economic engine
12:26How are companies handling uncertainty amidst policy change?
14:10Tariffs on Canadian Imports
15:58The future of drainage water recycling
18:50Drainage water recycling in Canada - 23 years ago!
20:25Tree roots in pipe
22:15Locking bell and gasket for dual wall?
23:30Share your ideas!
24:00The evolution of drainage over 50 years
26:00Pattern tiling moving around the country
29:50What do the next 10 years look like?
31:15Ask President Trump
34:15It’s all about relationships!

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We’re catching up with our Northern neighbor in this episode, where we discuss the complex intersection of agriculture, drainage, and the environment in Canada and the United States. Guest host Trey Allis chats with Mel Luymes, Executive Director of the Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario (LICO) about the evolution of pipe standards in Canada, the rigorous certification process for both operators and equipment, and Mel’s insights from her Midwest drainage tour. 

Chapters:

00:00 Intro and Mel's Background

04:25 The History of Drainage in Ontario

06:48 Ontario Operator and Equipment Licensing

08:59 Drainage Legislation and Regulation in Ontario

11:30 ON-CA Drainage Guide (Publication 29)

12:35 Evolving Pipe Standards and Certification

17:58 Mel's Midwest Drainage Tour

20:45 Impressions from the Midwest: Bioreactors, Wetlands, and Treatment Trains

24:39 Applying Midwest Innovations in Canada

25:53 Drainage Research and Innovation

27:36 Contour Drainage and Subsurface Irrigation

31:05 Precision Drainage and Soil Analysis

34:55 The Intersection of Agriculture and the Environment

37:32 The Future of Drainage

Related Content: 

• Loren Benz Wetland Restoration
• Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario
• #119: Revolutionizing Drainage: Improving Infrastructure with Technology
• #54: Building Wealth Through Tiling: Insights from Canada’s Original Installer 
• #34: The Birth of an Industry. Eh?

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From extreme weather and its impact on crop yields to the importance of timely drainage installations, Karl Guetter, farmer and Prinsco Ag Segment Lead, discusses the results of 2024 and offers valuable insights for navigating the challenges and opportunities of today's agricultural landscape. Learn what’s ahead for commodity prices, how timely installations could mean leaning on drainage contractors, and the potential influence of the new administration on the industry.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro - 2024 Ag Review & 2025 Preview

00:45 2024's Wild Ride: Weather Extremes

01:25 Wet Spring, Dry Summer: Farmer Challenges

03:45 The Drainage Difference in 2024

04:45 Karl's Farming Perspective: 2024 Struggles

07:45 When to DIY Drainage & When to Hire

11:30 Weighing the Costs

14:00 Commodity Market Update

16:30 Resin & Pipe Pricing: What to Expect in 2025

20:35 Weather & the Ag Economy: Regional Differences

22:15 The New Administration

23:00 Predictions & Priorities for 2025

25:30 Final Thoughts: Adapting to Change

Related Content: 

• #115: How Will the 2024 Election Results Impact Ag?
• #111: Drainage Contractors – Water Management MVPs
• #53: 4 Factors Driving the Continued Demand for Tile

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What began as a collaboration between several land-grant universities in the Mississippi River Basin has now grown to include farmers, non-profit organizations and businesses in the ag industry. Jenny Seifert, Watershed Outreach Specialist, joins us on this episode of The Water Table podcast to explain why One Good Idea is so important, and how farmer-to-farmer learning is crucial to agricultural water management.

Related Content: 

• One Good Idea Website
• Episode #112: A Five Generation Farm: One Woman’s Journey Home
• Episode #65: Outsmarting Mother Nature with Drainage Recycling

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From televising underground drainage systems to using LIDAR drones and hydraulic modeling, one engineering and design firm in the Twin Cities is using cutting-edge tech to transform watersheds and drainage systems in the upper Midwest. Guest host Trey Allis sits down with ISG Vice President and National Drainage Expert Chuck Brandel to learn how this technology is providing solutions for drainage contractors and professionals and the water management industry.

Chapter & Episode Topics:
00:00   Today on the Water Table Podcast
00:23   On the road at ISG
01:15   How do you look at 100-year old pipe
02:45   Catastrophic failures
03:20   No meetings during harvest…
04:30   Serving its purpose
05:40   Making sure it’s cost-effective
06:17   After installation…is it up to standards?
07:30   Courtesy run
08:06   The advantage of avoidance
10:00   Making sure it’s done right
12:20   Building relationships with contractors
13:20   Any other tools?
14:00   The cost effectiveness of LIDAR
15:50   Thank God for GPS
17:25   Hydraulic modeling
19:25   Giving farmers the confidence

Related Content: 

• ISG
• Episode 107: Drainage Summit and Crumbling Infrastructure: Why Collaboration is Key
• Episode 21: Ellingson Companies: A Passion For Ag Water Management
• Episode 13: Advocacy and Water Management Practices

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Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.