Farm Drainage Success: Your Easy 3-Step Guide
Water management is an integral part of maximising production on a farm. Properly drained fields help extend planting windows, promote better root development, reduce field compaction, increase nutrient accessibility, and improve consistency of crop emergence. It's no secret that installing drainage tile on your farm can seem like a daunting task. But it can be a breeze with a Soil-Max tile plough and Ag Leader’s Intellislope® technology! No need to hire someone to do the job for you. Self-install your farm drainage on your time, using equipment you already have, and save big by choosing to DIY your farm drainage installation process instead of hiring someone to do it for you. Visit https://farmxport.com/ to learn more about all the benefits that Farm Xport can offer you before, during, and after your DIY drainage project.
Once you decide to DIY your farm drainage, making the right choices about your tile plough and the technology you pair with your plough makes a world of difference during the installation process. In this week’s blog post, we share the simple 3 steps you need to follow to achieve tiling success when choosing Soil-Max and Intellislope®.
TAKE YOUR DIY TO THE MAX
The reasons to tile are numerous – but ultimately, it comes down to increasing your yield and maximising profit. At Farm Xport, we believe the ability to self-install your agricultural drainage should be accessible and affordable for all producers. Soil-Max® makes self-installing drainage tile incredibly affordable. A one-time, up-front investment in a tile plough typically can be recouped within the first year. Plus, it will produce ripple-effect benefits for you for years to come. Our proven system provides a cost-effective way to manage field drainage, so you can reap the benefits without breaking the bank. You will find that a single tile plough investment pays for itself. The enhanced agricultural drainage system you create helps expand profits. At the same time, ancillary expenses reduce through savings in machinery wear and tear, erosion and runoff prevention, and lower crop drying costs – producing significant benefits for you, the producers. Visit https://farmxport.com/soilmax to learn more about Farm Xport’s Soil-Max offerings for your DIY drainage project.
Intellislope® TILE PLOUGH CONTROL SYSTEM
The Intellislope® tile plough control system by Ag Leader eliminates the need for complicated laser surveying equipment and makes installing tile easy. If you can drive a tractor, install drainage tile with Intellislope. Intellislope® technology assists you in controlling the plough to install drainage tile on grade throughout the entire run. Perfectly drained fields are easily attainable with the right technology – at a fraction of the cost of hiring someone to complete the job. You will see increased field operation windows and reduced field compaction. You will also reduce the yield-robbing effects of denitrification due to poor drainage. Anything planted in proper drainage soil will experience deeper roots and earlier soil warm-up for better crop development. Eliminate hassles associated with laser surveying equipment/services. Visit https://farmxport.com/ag-leader to get do-it-yourself (DIY) tile planning, recording and installation at your fingertips. Simply tile on your schedule with the equipment you already own.
THE BENEFITS OF Intellislope®
Intellislope® from Ag Leader simplifies installing field drainage tile by using an RTK GPS receiver to install tile with a positive grade throughout the entire run. Intellislope® eliminates the need for laser surveying equipment by keeping the plough on grade in changing topography. Some of the benefits that you can expect to see using Intellislope® are:
Worry-free grade and pitch control
Automated grade calculations with AutoTile
Flexibility to adjust as you go
Automatic pitch control if the signal is lost
The “Autotile” mode makes the calculations required to say on the grade based on the survey and target elevation and then automatically adjusts the depth of the plough. If you desire more control, the “Grade Control” mode uses GPS instead of complicated lasers to install the drainage tile at the desired grade. You can easily adjust the grade settings as you install from the cab instead of a laser tripod. If needed, you can also use grade breaks to shallow up but keep the same grade. Are you worried about losing your RTK GPS signal? If the signal becomes lost during installation, use “Pitch Control” mode (with a pitch plough) to finish the run which keeps you at your desired pitch in case of a lost signal.
EASY AS 1, 2, 3!
You plough, you plant, you harvest, and you sell. But your agricultural drainage is holding you back from achieving maximum productivity on your farm. You try to ignore it, but it's hard when the farm becomes a swamp. So what do you do? Don't worry! When used together, a Soil-Max tile plough and Ag-Leader Intellislope® tile plough control system make the process of self-installation as easy as 1, 2, 3. That’s right, in just three easy steps, you can achieve DIY success and begin reaping the benefits of a farm at maximum productivity.
Step One: SURVEY
The first step is to assess your farm and identify the areas that need draining. Before installing your farm drainage, you need to survey your property to determine the best way to route the drainage system. Surveying involves taking into account the lay of the land, the slope of the ground, and the location of any existing features or obstacles that might interfere with the installation process. You can survey ahead of time with an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or at the time of installation with your Soil-Max tile plough utilising RTK GPS. Collect surveys by driving over the path where the tile needs placing to collect the surface elevation. A well-planned drainage system can keep your property well-drained and healthy, ensuring that your crops grow and thrive.
Step Two: PLAN
The second step is to design a drainage system to address your identified problems in the assessment phase. Once you determine where your drainage will go, it's time to plan how to install This planning stage is critical to ensure the drainage system is installed correctly and functions as intended. Assessing involves figuring out the correct type of drainage system and determining the size and layout of the drainage system.
The grade of the land (the slope of the land)
The type of soil
The size and shape of the drainage area
The distance between the drainage area and the water source
Now that you have determined the location and size required for your drainage tile, it's time to start planning the installation. Planning the drainage system includes choosing the path of the trench, the depth and width of the ditch, and the type of drainage material you will use. The drainage ditch's trajectory should follow the land's natural contours as much as possible. Correctly planning your drainage will help minimise the amount of excavation needed and help keep the trench from becoming clogged with debris. Your drainage material will depend on your area's soil type and climate if you want to use any aggregate. Some common aggregate drainage materials include gravel, crushed stone, or riprap.
If you are not comfortable designing your drainage system, do not despair. Intellislope® makes the process as simple, easy, and manageable as possible for users with any drainage installation experience (including no experience). Using a Soil-Max plough and Intellislope® technology ensures your drainage system will function properly and keep your farm healthy and productive.
Step Three: INSTALL
During the third step, you install the drainage system. Let Intellislope® do the work of precision control of the tile plough. Use Grade control or Pitch Control modes to install the tile. You have now installed your farm drainage. Congratulations, you're a drainage expert!
IN CONCLUSION
If you're looking to install drainage for your farm, you're lucky! This easy 3-step guide will help you finish the job quickly and easily. Step 1: Survey the Land. Step 2: Plan the Drainage. Step 3: Install the Drainage. Visit https://farmxport.com/contact to begin the conversation with Farm Xport’s pros about the Soil-Max® drainage tile ploughs and the Intellislope® tile plough control system by Ag Leader.