The Water Table

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. Ch...

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?...

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 episod...

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 sys...

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: 00:0...

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...

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 operat...

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 con...

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...

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...

From introducing GPS for grid tiling in New York to sharing best practices in agricultural water management, Chad Klotzbach of Alleghany Services has become an advocate for the drainage industry. Learn why he feels education is so important and how applying research from the Midwest is benefitting his East Coast business. Chapters & Episode Topics: 00:00   Today on the Water Table Podcast 00:2...

We're looking back on our top episodes of 2024! From the life lessons of seasoned drainage contractors to how the next generation is shaking up the ag industry, our conversations on The Water Table podcast explored a wide range of topics. What ties them all together? They highlight the unsung heroes of our industry and the crucial role water management plays in agriculture and our world. Chap...

The Agriculture Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) is giving a voice to folks in the industry. From farmers to drainage contractors and researchers to engineers, the ADMC’s success in offering solutions and implementing best practices like batch & build is making a difference for those shaping the future of water management. Trey Allis steps into the host seat to talk with Keegan Kult, Execu...

Now that the votes are counted, what do the 2024 election results mean for the future of agriculture? In this timely episode of The Water Table podcast, Jamie sits down with former Congressman Collin Peterson for a conversation about how the next four years may impact farmers, drainage contractors, and other folks in the industry. Chapters & Episode Topics: 00:00   Today on The Water Table pod...

Trey Allis takes over hosting duties to talk with Iowa State PhD student researcher, Eric Henning about the work he’s doing to assess Iowa’s opportunities as the state replaces its outdated water mains. From reducing ponding, increasing yields and addressing water quality issues, the benefits could be significant to agriculture in the Midwest. Chapters & Episode Topics: 00:00   Today on the Wa...

As water resources are being stretched and pulled away from the ag sector, learn why creating resiliency in agricultural water management is more critical than ever. Guest host & Prinsco Application Engineer, Trey Allis, sits down with water management expert, Dr. Chris Hay, to get the details on his research into drainage water recycling. Can it boost yields? Yes. Is it worth the cost? This e...

One woman has taken over the family farm her great-great grandfather started in 1883 with $500 and a team of horses... What led her to leave the city life behind and return to work the land in her rural community? Host Jamie Duininck sits down with Rachel Arneson, a fifth generation farmer from the Red River Valley in Minnesota. Learn how succession planning can be helpful and why getting involved...

Host Jamie Duininck shares his thought on the past year, our changing weather patterns, and answers the question, “When is the best time to install a drainage system and water management practices on your land?” He also explains why using a drainage contractor for solutions is always a good bet. Chapters & Episode Topics: 00:00   Today on the Water Table Podcast 00:23   Deep thoughts with Jami...

Jamie sits down with Prinsco Application Engineer and frequent Water Table guest host, Trey Allis to talk how the Water Table website and podcast are helping to bridge the gap between research in water management and actually putting that research into practice. From sub-surface irrigation to saturated buffers and bioreactors, drainage water recycling, and terrace tiling, TWT website is a go-to fo...

We’re on the road at a contractor round-table for this episode of The Water Table podcast. Jamie sits down with Ross Wetherell, a drainage contractor from Northwest Iowa, who came to the family business in a round-about way. From horse training in North Carolina and Ohio and doing horse shows in Las Vegas and Arizona, learn why Ross Wetherell thinks Northwest Iowa is the place to be; and how he’s...

Jamie sits down with water quality expert and agricultural real estate guru, Chuck Wingert in this episode of the Water Table Podcast. Their wide-ranging conversation covers system tiling, drainage coefficients, optimum spacings, a holistic approach to watersheds and more. Chuck’s vast knowledge of the ag industry and land sales in the Midwest gives him a unique perspective to speak on a wide rang...

Guest host Trey Allis sits down with National Drainage Expert, Chuck Brandel, to talk about an upcoming drainage summit happening in Minnesota at the end of August. The summit is bringing together land owners, private industry, the University of Minnesota and state agencies to talk about drainage infrastructure, water quality and see edge-of-field practices in action at a farm in Rothsay, Minnesot...

An Iowa landowner is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture claiming the federal government’s “swampbuster law,” which requires farmers to either leave wetlands untouched or forfeit certain federal benefits, is unconstitutional. Jamie sits down with James Conlan and his attorney, Loren Seehase, to hash it all out. Is it government overreach or not? And what would it mean for farmers if the statu...

On this episode of The Water Table podcast, Jamie sits down with Dr. Ehsan Ghane of Michigan State University to talk about the recent US Census which is reporting a decrease in acreage with tile drainage across the Midwest. Are the numbers accurate, or is there more at play? And while we’re on the subject of numbers, learn why long term is better for agricultural research. Chapters & Episode...

From batch and build to cover crops, a certain Woody Harrelson movie, and conservation farming around the world, this episode covers it all. Jamie sits down with one of our favorite guests– Ruth McCabe from Heartland Co-Op in Iowa. Learn what gets our guest up every morning and what boils her blood when it comes to conservation and water quality practices. Chapters & Episode Topics: 00:00   To...