The Water Table

Jamie asks guest and leadership expert, Mark Deterding, what it means to work IN your business versus ON your business? Mark believes you must work on your business foundation, which starts by defining your purpose, vision, and values. When those things are crystal clear you will be able to better support the needs of your business, your family, and your customers. Listen to the full episode here.

In this episode, Jamie talks with Prinsco Engineer, Trey Allis, who put in much of the legwork to establish the new Water Table website . Trey shares some highlights of the valuable research being done by land-grant universities across the country and why making it more accessible on our website can support the work of drainage contractors and help change the perception of our industry in the publ...

A behind-the-scenes conversation with host Jamie Duininck about why this podcast matters and how telling our story as an industry is so important. Jamie is passionate about recognizing the critical role drainage contractors, industry researchers and farmers play in the success of agriculture and water quality practices.

In 2021, the Water Table Podcast launched over 30 episodes and invited 29 guests to join the conversation and share their industry expertise with listeners. Topics have ranged from wetlands and the farm, water quality issues, use of recycled materials, tiling impact on land values, and unique life stories from guests. To close out the year, listen as Jamie reflects on some of the best conversation...

From working on a potato farm in the '90s where he trialed subsurface drainage to building a successful business, Chris Unrau shares his experiences of being a part of the "birth" of the water management industry in Canada.

Jamie and Bob Clark II discuss how Clark Farm Drainage has combated the challenges the industry has seen in 2021 and how it's affected their season. In Indiana, these challenges have included unpredictable weather, supply chain challenges, and inflation. Also in this episode, Bob Clark II shares what's ahead in 2022 for the markets they serve. 

Mike Litzau from Litzau Farm Drainage joins Jamie on the Fall Tiling Series. In this episode, Mike and Jamie catch up on the work Litzau Farm Drainage is doing in West Central Minnesota, how the season is shaping up and how land sales may correlate to 2022 when it comes to water management projects.

Jamie makes calls to drainage contractors to hear how the 2021 fall tiling season is going in their areas. Derrik Ellingson of Ellingson Companies joins Jamie on part 2 of this 4 part series.  Derrik shares what he's seeing in the Red River Valley as well as his experience with the permitting process in his region.

Jamie makes calls to drainage contractors to hear how the 2021 fall tiling season is going in their areas. Bryce Gillen of Gridline Field Tile joins Jamie on part 1 of this 4 part series. Gridline Field tile is located in Mitchell, SD., and services primarily Eastern South Dakota. Bryce gives his perspective on how the season has shaped up in his area.

Jamie sits down with Franck Groeneweg of Living Sky Grains to talk about his passion for agriculture. His journey in ag takes him from France to Iowa to Saskatchewan to Montana, all in the pursuit of being a more perfect steward of the land.

Former US Congressman Collin Peterson joins Jamie to talk about The Midwest Council on Agriculture. The council is a new organization that is advocating for strong agriculture and economic policy promoting the long-term sustainability of the agriculture industry in the Midwest region.

Perry Skaurud, a farmer in northern Minnesota, joins Jamie in part 4 of this 4 part series. This fall, the Water Table podcast is talking to farmers from all over the Midwest to get real-time updates on this year's harvest. Host Jamie Duininck makes calls to producers harvesting all types of crops to learn how this year's weather conditions along with factors such as subsurface drainage...

Eric Heaton joins Jamie in part 3 of this 4 part series to share what he's seeing in northern Illinois. This fall, the Water Table podcast is talking to farmers from all over the Midwest to get real-time updates on this year’s harvest. Host Jamie Duininck makes calls to producers harvesting all types of crops to learn how this year’s weather conditions along with factors such as subsurface dr...

This fall, the Water Table podcast is talking to farmers from all over the Midwest to get real-time updates on this year's harvest. Host Jamie Duininck makes calls to producers harvesting all types of crops to learn how this year's weather conditions along with factors such as subsurface drainage are impacting yields.  Dylan Erickson, a farmer in western Minnesota, joins Jamie in part 2...

This fall, the Water Table podcast is talking to farmers from all over the Midwest to get real-time updates on this year's harvest. Host Jamie Duininck makes calls to producers harvesting all types of crops to learn how this year's weather conditions along with factors such as subsurface drainage are impacting yields. Jeff Hewitt, a farmer in central Iowa, joins Jamie in part 1 of this 4...

World-class auctioneer and farmland specialist, Kristine Fladeboe-Duininck, joins Jamie to explain the significant impact that installed water management systems have on land values. Learn why a farm's tilemaps are worth their weight in gold and are key to getting the highest dollar per acre when it's time to sell.

Peter Darbishire joins the podcast to share his passion for water management education with stories from his 40+ year career as a writer and owner/editor of Drainage Contractor magazine. His vast career covering water management issues and trends across Europe, Canada, and the United States has given him a unique perspective on the evolution of our industry and the outlook for our future.

Jamie sits down with Roger Ellingson of Ellingson Companies. Considered a leader in the industry, Roger shares how agricultural water management has changed over his 51 years in business. He also discusses the often complicated dynamics of running a third-generation, family-owned business. Listen to hear how Ellingson Companies has pivoted and adapted to an evolving industry.

Jamie once again sits down with Mike Burns of RTi Global and Randy McGill of Prinsco to get an update on the situation with the plastic resin used to make agricultural drainage pipe.  This is a unique look at how the global plastic supply works. They look at how far the resin supply has come since last talking and what the future is looking like for the industry.

This week we are talking to nationally respected Meteorologist, Entrepreneur, and Author, Paul Douglas .  With over 40 years of watching and analyzing weather patterns and the climate, he has incredible insight into the effects of climate change on the weather we are experiencing today.  He shares his thoughts on what the future will hold for weather and how that will affect water management on th...

Matt Holland has been working with Pheasants Forever as a biologist for over 25 years and is currently the Director of Grant Development. Matt sits down with Jamie to discuss how Pheasants Forever conservation efforts can be a compliment to conservation on the farm. He explains the opportunities for collaboration towards a common goal of better water quality for all.

Flexible dual-wall is a product innovation that has advanced our industry and given drainage contractors a strategic tool to increase safety, improve installation speeds and get into high water table areas. In this episode, you'll learn about the product development journey which recently culminated in a new ASTM standard that ensures consistency among manufacturers and instills confidence am...

Warren Formo, Executive Director at MN Ag Water Resource Center, discusses the urgent need for modern data in order to create modern water management practices for our changing industry and world. He shares examples from Discovery Farms Minnesota, a farmer-led effort to gather water quality information under real-world conditions.

Today we are joined by Margaret Johnson, Administrator of the Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District (MFCRW). She shares insight into how watersheds work and their focus on water quantity and water quality.

Fifth-generation Iowa farmer, Jacob Handsaker, started Hands On Excavating about 10 years ago to meet the tiling needs of area farmers and has been growing ever since.  He shares the opportunities he sees in the installation of water quality practices in the changing water management landscape.