The Water Table

Guest Charlie Schafer started Agri Drain with two brothers in 1976.  In this episode, we get his perspective on our changing industry and opportunities to positively impact water quality through controlled drainage and conservation practices. 

Jamie continues his discussion Levi Otis, Director of Government Relations at Ellingson Companies, and Kale Van Bruggen, Attorney at Rinkee Noonan law firm, this time turning their attention to Waters of the United States or WOTUS.  Listen to learn more about the legislation and its impact on agriculture today.

Jamie sits down with two experts to discuss the effects of US Fish and Wildlife easements on water management on the farm. He is joined by Levi Otis, Director of Government Relations at Ellingson Companies, and Kale Van Bruggen, Attorney at Rinkee Noonan law firm. 

John Kolb from Rinkee Noonan sits down with Jamie and Kent to take a deep dive into the law as it relates to agricultural water management. The discussion takes a look at history, swamp busters, and how they all lead to the laws we see today.

Jamie and Kent talk with Bob Clark of Clark Farm Drainage and President of National Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA). In this episode, Bob shares what led him to LICA and the value he sees in learning from a community of like-minded individuals.

Jamie sits down with Mike Burns of RTi Global and Randy McGill of Prinsco to discuss the current situation with the plastic resin used to make agricultural drainage pipe.  This is a unique look at how the global plastic supply works. They cover the effects of the pandemic on the global supply and what the recent winter storms in Texas have done to exacerbate the supply shortage.

Jamie sits down with Jason Ahrenholz of Prinsco and Chuck Brandel of ISG to talk about the engineering behind water quality practices. Bioreactors, Saturated Buffers and more.  Listen now to get a better understanding of what it takes to increase water quality on the farm.

Have you had questions about ag water management or the topics discussed in previous episodes? Jamie and Kent sit down to answer questions listeners have submitted over the last couple of months.

Jamie continues his discussion with Jason Ahrenholz, Director of Engineering at Prinsco, and Dr. Michael Pluimer, Director of the Advanced Materials Center at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In part two the conversation focused on the sustainability and resiliency of making HDPE pipe.

Jamie discusses "The Science behind making pipe" with Jason Ahrenholz, Director of Engineering at Prinsco and Dr. Michael Pluimer, Director of the Advanced Materials Center at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In part one the conversation focused on the material blends that go into making pipe, including the use of recycled content 

Today Kent Rodelius, sitting in for Jamie, has a discussion with guest Jeremy Donabauer, a wetland specialist from Agricultural & Wetland Services. Jeremy has been helping farmers with wetlands, wetland banking and wetland issues for almost a decade. Listen to learn more about how wetlands are used on the farm.

Collin Peterson has represented the 7th congressional district of MN for 30 years and has served on the House Committee on Agriculture for 15 years, most recently as Chairman.  As a strong advocate for agriculture in the US House of Representatives, the Congressman has left his mark on agriculture. Jamie has an interesting conversation with Collin on his history, accomplishments and what he sees i...

Jamie Duininck and Kent Rodelius sit down with Northern Minnesota farmer Todd Stanley.  Hear how water management has changed they way Todd farms and how the results he's seen on the farm has turned him into a water management advocate.

Jamie Duininck sits down with Dr. Matt Helmers of Iowa State University to discuss "A Case for Water Management". Over the course of this episode, Jamie and Matt discuss water management practices, water quality, the affects of climate change and more. This episode is packed with valuable information from someone who has done the research and studied the data behind water management on t...

Jamie sits down with Kent Rodelius, a 37 year veteran of the Water Management industry.  They talk about why they are doing this podcast, the history of water management, and touch on some of the key issues the industry is facing.