The Water Table

Jamie Duininck

A place to learn about agricultural water management topics that impact our industry. Jamie Duininck hosts thought-provoking discussions with a wide variety of experts on topics such as drainage best practices, product standards, conservation efforts, land values, crop health, economic impact, system design, and safety issues.

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#152
October 20 · 29 min
Stacking farm data to find your best tile ROI
When the developers of ag precision software TerrainIQ asked agronomists what farmers need to be successful, every one of them said the same thing: nothing works without water management. Yet water analysis is the one piece most farm data tools leave out. Carter Quam and Mike Tveten join host Trey Allis to share what their company, Terrain, has learned since those early days and why the current version of their software compiles land, water, tile, and yield data all in one place. Carter and Mike explain how the TerrainIQ platform uses public data to help farmers and landowners understand field performance, identify areas that can be improved, and make smart investment decisions. They dive into the ROI of tiling and talk about why the best return usually comes from productive ground that stays wet. They also offer advice on spotting undersized mains and failing tile, digitizing hand-drawn tile maps, sharing data with your tile contractor or agronomist, and how their tool takes the guesswork out of agriculture water management. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:28 What is TerrainIQ? 02:29 Why water has been left out of precision ag 04:58 Stacking public and private data layers 06:19 Ranking fields to find the right investment 08:03 Running ROI scenarios farm by farm 08:29 Prioritizing farms across your operation 09:36 Finding undersized mains and failing tile 10:37 Yield still left on a pattern-tiled farm 14:00 Other users of farm data 16:29 Sharing data with your tile contractor and agronomist 17:27 Putting decision-making power in landowners’ hands 19:59 Adding soil sample data 21:22 Where the data is available 25:32 Digitizing hand-drawn tile maps 27:32 Tile design, lift stations, and remote monitoring Related Content: #114: Crumbling ag drainage infrastructure = unique upgrade opportunities #108: An ag real estate perspective on tiling, watersheds and wetlands #119: Revolutionizing drainage: improving infrastructure with technology Find us on social media! Facebook X Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes and water management education.
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#151
September 22 · 33 min
Why mental health is a farm safety issue
Emily Krekelberg grew up with a daily reminder of just how much farm safety matters. More than 50 years ago, her father lost his leg in an auger accident on the family's dairy farm. Although Emily hadn’t been born when it happened, this family history influences her and informs the work she does, to this day. During Emily’s graduate studies in agriculture education, she began to integrate health and safety messaging into her outreach. Now she’s the Extension Educator for Farm Safety and Health with University of Minnesota Extension, and she's built a career on a simple idea: mental health is a safety issue too. Emily joins Jamie Duininck to talk about why farm culture makes it so hard to ask for help, how stress and fatigue affect the split-second decisions farmers make every day, and why something as small as asking, "How are you, really?" can open a door. From financial pressures to the isolation of the job itself, she breaks down why farm stress builds, and offers realistic, one-thing-at-a-time ways to take care of yourself this harvest season. This episode contains content about mental health conditions that may be distressing. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the National 988 Crisis Line. Or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:15 From the dairy farm to a career in extension 04:44 The auger accident that shaped her family 07:51 Turning safety lessons into daily reminders 12:10 The stories that stick with people 14:36 Why mental health is harder to talk about 16:29 Mental health as a farm safety issue 18:48 Asking "How are you, really?" 26:00 Small moments, big connections 29:19 Getting ready for National Farm Safety and Health Week 31:18 Realistic self-care during harvest Related Content: #143: Facing it together: mental health in agriculture #86: The serious business of safety… on the road #47: Call before you dig Find us on social media! Facebook X Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes and water management education.
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#150
August 19 · 35 min
Biochar, buffers, and the fight against flooding
Christy Gibson, an Illinois Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, kept noticing the same thing on her research travels: farm fields across the Midwest standing in water after increasingly intense storms. That observation led to more questions: How do farmers work with or around waterlogged fields? How do mitigation tactics, like replanting, create inefficiencies? And what solutions can actually make a difference? Guest host Trey Allis talks with Christy about her decision to study field inundation and her work helping farmers expand their toolbox for managing wet fields. They dig into one amendment getting a lot of attention, biochar, and discuss what it would take to use it at a farm scale. Christy also shares why a water management plan matters and what her research team hopes to learn next. Note: This episode was recorded on June 8, 2026. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:43 What it means to be a distinguished postdoc 02:32 From the Bahamas to Midwest ag research 08:22 Defining field inundation 09:46 How farmers cope with wet fields today 12:11 A tiered approach to water management 14:34 Expanding the toolbox for every landscape 16:37 Biochar as a targeted soil amendment 20:58 What exactly is biochar? 25:05 The challenge of scaling up biochar 28:22 Storms rolling in 31:00 What's next for the research Related Content: #142: Minnesota's coolest drainage plots #110: Bridging the gap between water management research and application #55: How changing weather patterns impact the stability of your farm Find us on social media! Facebook X Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes and water management education.
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#149
July 21 · 20 min
First-gen contractors: two paths into drainage
Most drainage contractors grow up in the business. Nate Ludvigson and Dustin Nelson didn't. With a borrowed plow and a cousin's backhoe, Nate started Ludvigson Tiling near Madison, Minnesota almost 20 years ago. Dustin launched 605 Tile & Drain in 2021 near Summit, South Dakota, jumping in with both feet after years of farming and seeing the difference tiling made on his own farm. Host Jamie Duininck and Prinsco's Karl Guetter sit down with Nate and Dustin to have a tailgate talk about the sacrifices of starting a business from nothing, balancing farming with contracting, the hardest jobs left in the industry, and what they hope the next 10 years look like. Near the end of the conversation, Dustin turns the tables by asking Jamie and Karl a question– wondering how AI might change the relationship between contractors and manufacturers. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Meet Nate and Dustin 01:24 How Nate got started 03:23 Dustin's path into drainage 05:38 Early sacrifices and challenges 07:48 Growing the farm and the business together 09:42 What Dustin would do differently 10:44 Why rural America is different 11:50 The hardest jobs left in the industry 12:47 Working in high water table conditions 13:24 Looking ahead 10 years 15:00 Turning the questions back on Karl and Jamie 15:53 How AI might change the industry 19:42 Closing thoughts Related Content: #118: Accidental advocate for the drainage industry #100: On the road at ISU! Talking past, present, and future of ag water management Find us on social media! Facebook X Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes and water management education.
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#148
June 16 · 32 min
What can farmers expect? An Ag economist's perspective
As the chief agricultural economist and senior vice president at Wells Fargo's Agri-Food Institute, Dr. Michael Swanson has a big-picture understanding of energy markets and the economy of agribusiness. He stops by The Water Table to help us make sense of the impacts of the war in Iran and how the markets might continue to react. What can we expect crude oil prices to do? What about commodity prices? How does this situation compare with the Russia-Ukraine war? Michael shares his wisdom on these topics—and an old adage or two—to keep the current situation in perspective and offer encouragement for farmers to seize the right opportunities for success. Note: This episode was recorded on June 5, 2026. Chapters 00:00 - Introductions 02:10 - Systems thinking and never-ending stories 05:28 - Challenging the popular narrative 11:02 - An opportunity to make money in this market 12:04 - Crude oil costs and stockpiling resources 16:10 - Global feedstock and energy markets 17:05 - A closer look at the numbers 19:10 - Fixing the cash rent problem 25:09 - Looking back and ahead 30:12 - Final thoughts Related Content #144: The Iran war and pipe prices #52: An Ag Economist Tells All: Critical Topics Impacting the Future of Agriculture Find us on social media! Facebook X Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes and water management education.
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#147
May 19 · 23 min
Preserving the soil profile with v-plow installs
Kyle Whitcomb was nine years old when his grandpa started teaching him about the family business. He now runs that business, Whitcomb Farm Drainage, out of Lake Lillian, Minnesota. He’s focused on meeting his customers’ needs, and one way he does that is by using a v-plow to install pattern tiling. This approach minimizes disturbance to the soil, reducing ruts and erosion while preserving topsoil and nutrients. Kyle shares what he’s learned from years of using this trenchless installation method, talks through its pros and cons, what beet farmers especially love about it, and why it’s more commonly used in Europe. On a more personal note, Kyle shares a little about being the third generation in his family to run the business, the paths his siblings have taken, and what the future might look like for his family and business. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Why a v-plow? 03:54 Comparing field heal times 04:40 Pattern tiling in no-till systems 06:00 Why beet farmers love v-plow installation 07:25 V-plow vs straight shank plow 09:30 The future of v-plowing in ag drainage 12:24 Variations and popularity in Europe 14:17 Kyle’s custom intake boxes 19:00 The legacy of the Whitcomb family business Related Content: #127: Cover Crops and No-Till: A Conservationist’s Perspective #97: Stay Curious– Life Lessons from One Contractor to Another V-Plow for Victory in Rut Reduction Find us on social media! Facebook X Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes and water management education.
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#146
April 30 · 40 min
Resin pricing nine weeks into the Iran war… an honest update
Two months into the Iran war, Jamie welcomes back Sleiman Bassila, founder and president of BIC Advisory Group, and Tom Hughes, founder, president, and CEO of Quantum Polymers. These two polyethylene industry experts have been closely watching the events in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz and share their insights into the wide-ranging market effects of the ongoing war. Sleiman and Tom summarize what’s happened since their last visit to The Water Table. The conversation touches on supply shortages, damaged petrochemical plants, unprecedented daily pricing increases, impacts on domestic pipe prices, and what it all means to the fertilizer supply chain. They also talk through the possibilities for recovery and how long it might take for stability to return once the war is over. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:36 A recap of recent history 05:35 Re-exporters enter the market 08:58 Impacts of petrochemical plant damage 12:00 Recovery possibilities, challenges, and timelines 18:30 Material availability, competition, and prioritization 22:32 The unprecedented pace of price increases 27:13 How lags in resin prices impact domestic pipe costs 31:09 Expectations of inflation 32:47 What about the fertilizer supply chain? 36:28 How oil prices impact resin re-exports 38:54 Closing Related Content: #144: The Iran war and pipe prices #124: Who pays? The impact of tariffs on U.S. and Canadian ag #8: Cause and effect: Plastic resin supply Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes and water management education.
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#145
April 21 · 43 min
Putting controlled drainage to the test
Can controlled drainage make that big of a difference in drainage flow, nitrogen loss, and overall yields? A research project in the Midwest has been studying that question since 2017, and the findings might surprise you. Guest host Trey Allis sits down with Jeppe Kjaersgaard, a research scientist studying drainage, nitrogen management, and irrigation. Jeppe traces his journey from the family farm in Denmark to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, shares results from his controlled drainage field study, and makes a compelling case for collaborating with people across the ag industry. Jeppe and Trey talk through the methods and findings of a controlled drainage comparison study in Wilkin County, Minnesota. The project includes two sites: a 160-acre field used to gather data on controlled drainage and a 65-acre plot used to explore the impacts of a saturated buffer. Jeppe shares what he’s learning about how different water management methods impact drainage flow, nitrogen loss, and overall yields. Trey and Jeppe also discuss the Conservation Drainage Network, an organization made up of researchers, drainage professionals, and interest organizations, as well as federal, state, and local conservation district staff. Jeppe talks about the benefits of such a network and how it can help increase adoption of different conservation drainage practices. Learn more about the Red River Drainage Water Management Project: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/cleanwaterfund/onfarmprojects/rrvdwmproject Check out the Conservation Drainage Network: https://conservationdrainage.net/ Chapters: 00:00 - Introductions 01:42 - From Denmark to Minnesota 04:50 - Local differences and global similarities 06:45 - Minnesota Department of Agriculture work 08:27 - Controlled drainage comparison project 13:20 - Highlights and learnings of project 17:38 - Measuring drainage flow, nitrogen loss, and yields 20:00 - Cost analysis and planning for the future 21:58 - Saturated buffer impacts on nitrogen and water flow 26:19 - Using project data to set standards 27:47 - The Conservation Drainage Network 35:47 - Drainage is a key piece of the whole ag picture 41:40 - Closing Related Content: #142: Minnesota's coolest drainage plots #98: Exploring Discovery Farms: A lesson in doing the homework #110: Bridging the gap between water management research and application Jeppe Kjaersgaard on the 2026 Discovery Farms Minnesota Controlled Drainage Webinar Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes and water management education.
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#144
March 12 · 48 min
The Iran war and pipe prices
Just 11 days into the Iran war, Jamie hosts an in-depth discussion with two experts in the polyethylene market. Joining the conversation are Sleiman Bassila, founder and president of BIC Advisory Group, and Tom Hughes, founder, president, and CEO of Quantum Polymers. With a combined 45 years in the industry, Sleiman and Tom contextualize current events with a brief history of the polyethylene resin market. They discuss the current situation, compare it with the 2021 freeze caused by Winter Storm Uri, cover the significance of the shipping shutdown at the Strait of Hormuz, and share their thoughts on potential short- and long-term challenges ahead for producers and consumers. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:45 - Defining terms 03:43 - A brief history of the polyethylene market 11:04 - Winter Storm Uri and the 2021 freeze 15:05 - A chokepoint on global energy 19:02 - Cascading implications 22:44 - A dangerous situation 24:49 - Global events and impacts at home 28:13 - The importance of shipping routes 29:23 - Seeing the big economic picture 31:46 - Ongoing market volatility 33:44 - Understanding the scope of the crisis 35:00 - Higher prices, large volume buyers 38:45 - Short- and long-term effects 41:44 - Potential outcomes for the global economy 44:32 - Final thoughts Related Content: #124: Who pays? The impact of tariffs on U.S. and Canadian ag #115: How will the 2024 election results impact ag? #8: Cause and effect: Plastic Resin Supply Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#143
February 17 · 31 min
Facing it Together: Mental Health in Agriculture
After a near-fatal battle with depression, Mark Meier got the help he needed to recover. That experience inspired him to co-found the Face It Foundation and help other men find connection, understanding, and healing through peer support groups. Mark and Jamie talk about the challenges men face when it comes to addressing mental health issues, as well as the negative impacts of avoiding those struggles. They also discuss how these challenges can show up for farmers, how rural communities may have some unique benefits when it comes to making connections, and the role of faith in recovery. This episode contains content about depression, suicide, and mental health conditions that may be distressing. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the National 988 Crisis Line. Or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. For more information on the Face It Foundation visit: https://www.faceitfoundation.org/ Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Coping with the ups and downs of ag 02:54 - Mark Meier and the Face It Foundation 03:30 - Mental health crisis leads to new understanding 04:15 - Identifying a connection gap and launching Face It 05:22 - Group support, deep connections, and big impacts 07:02 - Reflecting on generational differences and similarities 09:31 - Isolation, social media, and self-esteem 11:05 - Making connections in rural America 12:30 - Getting support through the Face It Foundation 15:12 - Healing through connection with others 16:16 - How peer support works 17:30 - Partnering with the Masons 18:30 - The role of faith in recovery 19:40 - The costs of disconnection and depression 22:10 - Supporting each other through life’s uncertainties 25:29 - Unique opportunities to connect in rural communities 27:22 - The power of relationships and vulnerability 28:20 - The future of the Face It Foundation Related Content: #131: Schwartz Farms: A Business Built On Shared Purpose & Embracing Change #121: Navigating the Challenges & Opportunities of Being a Farmer #130: Community-Driven Conservation: Bridging Gaps, Building Resilience Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#142
January 20 · 37 min
Minnesota's Coolest Drainage Plots
In this episode, guest host Trey Allis chats with Dr. Lindsay Pease of the University of Minnesota Crookston. An Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Nutrient and Water Management, Dr. Pease shares insights into her research on drainage, nutrient management, and soil health in northwestern Minnesota. Tracing her roots in the western Lake Erie basin in Ohio to her current work in the Red River Valley, Dr. Pease reflects on the similarities and differences between these two flat glacial landscapes. She shares her experience of getting “deeper and deeper into drainage” and how this interest brought her to her position in Crookston, MN. Since 2019, Dr. Pease has conducted a 60-acre field experiment, studying crop outcomes in alternating drained and undrained sections. Through extreme weather conditions, she’s gathered valuable information about how tile drainage impacts water quality and crop performance. She shares the outcomes of this research and talks about what she’s learned about tile drainage and its impacts on the health of soil, water, and different types of crops. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 00:48 - From one glacial lake bed to another 02:14 - Focus on drainage and soil health 03:39 - Unique challenges in northwestern Minnesota 05:31 - Crop rotation and nutrient cycling 08:33 - A 60-acre field experiment 10:53 - Drainage and extreme weather patterns 12:16 - Wet seasons and nitrogen loss 13:37 - Testing in drought conditions 16:00 - Sugar beet drainage comparisons 19:36 - Phosphorus runoff and water quality 22:34 - Conservation practices for runoff control 26:06 - Controlled drainage and lift stations 30:40 - Future research directions 33:18 - Upcoming learning opportunities 36:03 - Closing thoughts Related Content: The Water Table Episode #69: A City Kid’s Impact on Water Management Education with Dr. Lindsay Pease Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#141
Dec 23, 2025 · 16 min
2025 Wrapped: A Year in Ag Water Management
As we close out another year, The Water Table looks back on the conversations that shaped 2025. In this special "2025 Wrapped" episode, we’ve curated highlights from our most impactful discussions—from Ducks Unlimited to the high-tech future of drainage modeling. Host Jamie Duininck and guest host Trey Allis revisit stories of multi-generational family businesses, the critical role of recycled plastics in pipe manufacturing, and the evolving mindset around water as a resource to be managed rather than a problem to be solved. Whether discussing the effects of tariffs on agriculture or the rigorous licensing of contractors in Ontario, this year has been a testament to the growth and professionalism of our industry. Join us for this retrospective as we celebrate another year in Ag water management. Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to 2025 Wrapped 00:14 - John Schwartz: Vision and Teamwork in the Swine Industry 01:19 - Samantha Ewald: Wetlands as the Kidneys of the Earth 03:03 - Jamie Duininck: The Minnesota State Fair Experience 03:50 - Lauren Lewandowski Hamer: Recycling and Local Manufacturing in Minnesota 04:32 - Jamie Duininck: The Backbone of the Drainage Industry 04:50 - Tim & Pattie Krengel: Multi-Generational Legacies 06:01 - Toban Dyck: Agriculture Across the Great Plains 07:41 - Chad Klotzbach: Managing Water Quality and Quantity 08:43 - Jamie Duininck: The First Ever Water Table Live 10:59 - Mel Luymes: Legislation and Licensing in Ontario 12:24 - Karl Guetter: Insights on the 2024 and 2025 Seasons 13:14 - Chuck Brandel: LiDAR Drones and Cost-Effective Modeling Episodes Featured in 2025 Wrapped: 118: Accidental Advocate for the Drainage Industry 119: Revolutionizing Drainage: Improving Infrastructure with Technology 121: Navigating the Challenges & Opportunities of Being a Farmer 122: Drainage in Ontario: Balancing Agriculture & the Environment. 123: Drainage Contractors' Questions Answered - Live! 124: Who Pays? The Impact of Tariffs on U.S. and Canadian Ag 126: From the Ground Up: A Legacy of Breaking Barriers & Land Stewardship 131: Schwartz Farms: A Business Built On Shared Purpose & Embracing Change 132: Ducks Unlimited: Balancing Wetland Conservation & Agricultural Production 135: A Fair Deal: Recycling & Giving Plastics New Life Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#140
Dec 9, 2025 · 28 min
Clean Water is Everyone's Responsibility | #140
In the quest for better water quality, farmers and city residents share a vital common goal: protecting our shared water resources by managing runoff. Host Jamie Duininck speaks with Ann Zawistoski and Sophie Wicklund of the Adopt-a-Drain program to draw a direct line between agricultural and urban water management practices. Just as farmers use practices like buffer strips, bioreactors, and controlled drainage to minimize nutrient loss, our “city cousins" clean their local storm drains to prevent urban pollutants like leaves and debris from entering waterways. Adopt-a-Drain empowers the public to take responsibility for stormwater management, recognizing that urban stormwater runoff is a major source of water pollution. The program encourages residents to adopt a storm drain near their home and clean it just twice a month. This simple, hands-on approach transforms the public's understanding of their impact on the watershed, leading to broader behavioral changes. The collective results prove the power of individual action, with over 30,000 adopted drains and nearly one million pounds of debris removed across the country. Tune in to discover the powerful parallels between urban and agricultural water quality practices and how community engagement is successfully working toward clean water for everyone. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Adopt-a-Drain Guest Introductions 01:57 The Urban Stormwater Challenge 04:00 How the Adopt-a-Drain Program Works 05:40 Nearly 1 Million Pounds of Debris Removed 06:35 Behavior Change 07:50 Adopt-a-Drain's Origins and Inspiration 10:52 Why Small, Frequent Cleanings Make a Big Difference 13:56 Engaging Participants Year-Round 15:53 Funding and Partnerships 19:42 The Parallels to Ag Water Management 25:39 Expanding the Movement Related Content: #138 | Set It & Forget It... Making Controlled Water Management Accessible with Agri Drain #56 | A More Efficient Approach to Water Quality: Batch and Build #14 | Opportunities in Water Quality Adopt-a-Drain Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#139
Nov 25, 2025 · 28 min
#139 | Right Place, Right Time; Conservation Hitting The Mark
Who can help with funding water quality practices on your land? Guest Host Trey Allis sits down with Rita Weaver, Chief Engineer at the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR), to discuss soil health, water management practices, and water-quality programs happening throughout the state. They break down specific projects, funding, and tools helping producers take on water and soil challenges. Learn how opportunities with conservation — adding practices in the right place at the right time — are making an impact. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:33 - Welcome to The Water Table podcast 00:40 - Introducing Rita Weaver 01:57 - Chief Engineer Role at BWSR 03:05 - Agency Impact on Water Quality 03:52 - Major Projects and Funding (Where’s The Money Going) 05:05 - Opportunities With Improvement Projects 08:15 - Larger Scale Conservation Practices and Improvements 08:51 - BWSR Water Quality and Storage Program 09:46 - Funding: Grant Application Process 10:52 - Future Funding: How Far Will Funding Go 13:35 - Storage Practice End Goal 14:45 - What Does Soil Health Mean To You 17:02 - The Effect of Too Much Water, Too Little Water 18:00 - Water Quality Issues and Solutions 22:20 - How Flooding Affects High Benefitting Areas 24:09 - Did You Always Want To Work For BWSR 27:07 - Thank You Rita 27:30 - How To Contact BWSR 27:50 - Wrap-up Related content: #132 | Ducks Unlimited: Balancing Wetland Conservation & Agricultural Production #114 | Crumbling Ag Drainage Infrastructure = Unique Upgrade Opportunities #87 | Who Supports the Boots on the Ground!?! (Hint: it’s LICA)… On the Road #77 | How 5 Million Dollars, 39 Test Sites & 29 Bright Minds are Transforming Drainage Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#138
Nov 11, 2025 · 47 min
#138 | Set It & Forget It… Making Controlled Water Management Accessible
Control structures— Can you really set ‘em and forget ‘em? Guest Host Trey Allis is joined by Scott Lukan, Agri Drain President, and Josh Shuler, Agri Drain Product & Business Manager, to dig into controlled water management. They break down the scalable solutions available to the industry and the role of Agri Drain in making them more approachable. Learn how these “levers” are helping farmers and landowners reduce nutrient loss and gain greater control over their water and pocketbooks. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to The Water Table podcast 00:42 Introducing Scott and Josh 01:52 About Agri Drain 03:00 Water Level Control Structures 06:30 Precipitation and Crop Needs 08:30 Set It & Forget It: Setting A Schedule 10:15 Benefits of Controlled Drainage 14:37 Dry Years Versus Wet Years 17:07 Innovative Product Lines 19:05 Inside View of Structures and Valves 23:06 Phones, Cameras, and Monitoring 25:15 Practices That Maximize Effectiveness 31:38 Performance Reports 33:01 Retrofitting Existing Tile Systems 42:15 Weather Patterns and Adaptability 44:10 Innovation and the Future of Controlled Water Management 47:02 Wrap-up Related content: #119 | Revolutionizing Drainage - Improving Infrastructure with Technology #114 | Crumbling Ag Drainage Infrastructure = Unique Upgrade Opportunities #110 | Bridging the Gap Between Water Management Research & Application #46 | How the Next Generation is Using Technology to Take Ag to the Next Level Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#137
Oct 28, 2025 · 34 min
#137 | Harvest Check-in 2025: Yields All Over the Map
How’s this year’s harvest? Jamie is checking in with farmers across the Midwest for an update on the harvest season — what’s going well, what’s been challenging, and how weather patterns, market shifts, and community efforts are shaping the season. From early planting to the impact of heavy rainfall on yield projections, you’ll hear an honest, down-to-earth conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture in our region. Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to the Water Table Podcast 01:54 - Introducing Al Giese 02:48 - Commodity prices and current down cycle 03:32 - Ethanol’s strong demand 05:24 - The impact of weather and disease on crop yields 09:20 - How was this year’s harvest? 11:57 - Checking in with Dylan Erickson 13:57 - Harvest update from Western Minnesota 18:52 - Chippewa County and soybean expectations 22:25 - Effect of changing weather patterns 22:42 - Touching base with Karl Guetter 25:48 - Dry fall weather and early finish 33:22 - Update wrap-up Related Content: #134 | Beyond the Squeeze Test: How Unseen Variables Cost Farmers #121 | Navigation the Challenges & Opportunities of Being a Farmer #55 | How Changing Weather Patterns Impact the Stability of Your Farm #52 | An Ag Economist Tells All: Critical Topics Impacting the Future of Ag Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#136
Oct 14, 2025 · 29 min
#136 | From Worry to Water Management: How Fairgoers Feel About Water Quality
When it comes to water quality, what do people really think? Host Jamie Duininck took The Water Table podcast on the road to the Minnesota State Fair to interview fairgoers and hear their concerns. You'll hear genuine, on-the-spot answers, covering everything from local lake health to field runoff to worries about nitrates and other materials reaching the water table. Jamie and Prinsco Application Engineer, Trey Allis, unpack these conversations to address concerns and discuss how water management practices, such as control structures, offer solutions for improved water quality. Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to the Water Table Podcast 00:28 - Today’s guest Trey Allis 01:40 - Discussing water quality at the State Fair 03:00 - Importance of water quality 03:35 - The effect of runoff, impervious soils and algae 04:46 - Concerns about the impact of agriculture 07:35 - Water management practices and implementation 12:16 - Sub-irrigation, drainage recycling and other opportunities 17:55 - Let’s talk about research 18:45 - Nitrate issues and control drainage 22:42 - New contractors and the use of technology 25:49 - Adopt a storm drain 29:10 - Wrap-up Related Content #129: The Tipping Point: Accelerating Agricultural Water Quality & Soil Retention #116: A Unified Voice & Vision for Ag Water Management #103: Rapping About Drainage– A Water Table First! Best Practice: Controlled Drainage Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#135
Sep 30, 2025 · 15 min
#135 | A Fair Deal: Recycling & Giving Plastics New Life
Jamie takes a trip to the Great Minnesota Get-Together to talk with people and hear their thoughts on recycling, water quality, and products made from post-consumer plastics. He had some great conversations, including a chat with Lauren from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. They discussed how HDPE plastics can be recycled to make products like picnic tables and birdhouses--as well as drainage pipe, which uses a large volume of post-consumer plastic. Jamie also talked with Ann and Jennifer from the University of Minnesota Extension about the opportunities that exist to educate young people about local water quality, the role that plastic pipe manufacturing plays in recycling efforts, and potential careers in the water management industry. The last conversation in this episode is with Jacob from By the Yard, a Minnesota-based company that manufactures and sells lawn furniture made from recycled plastic. He and Jamie discuss their shared goal of keeping plastic out of landfills and how rewarding it is to do something good with recycled plastics. Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to the Water Table Podcast 00:35 - Visiting the Minnesota State Fair 01:47 - Recycling plastics into new products 03:07 - From milk jugs to drainage pipe 06:30 - Why water matters locally 08:20 - Opportunities for educating young people 09:45 - Doing something good with recycled plastics 13:16 - Closing remarks Related content: #67 | Sustainability and Resilience - How the Plastic Pipe Industry is on the Forefront #05.1 | The Science Behind Making Pipe: Part 01 #05.2 | The Science Behind Making Pipe: Part 02 Water Quality resources from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency University of Minnesota Extension By the Yard Outdoor Furniture Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#134
Sep 2, 2025 · 20 min
#134 | Beyond the Squeeze Test: How Unseen Variables Cost Farmers
Some of the biggest risks in quality are the ones you can’t see. Pipe might look fine or feel strong in your hands, but hidden issues like uneven wall thickness, poor resin blends, or the wrong corrugation profile could cause pipe to fail in the field years after installation. In part two of our Perspectives on Pipe Quality series, Jamie Duininck sits down with Paul Schrupp, Director of Quality and Continuous Improvement at Prinsco, to unpack these unseen factors and explain why quality depends on science, testing, and design. They talk about resin properties, thickness distribution, cold-weather brittleness, UV protection using carbon black, and the role of ASTM standards in protecting farmers. True quality is not obvious at first glance. It is built into every step of the process so that pipe in the ground will perform for decades and create long-term value for farm families and communities. Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome Back 01:00 - Paul’s Role in Quality 02:20 - What Quality Really Means 04:10 - Beyond ASTM Minimums 05:45 - The Squeeze Test Problem 07:30 - Corrugation Profiles & Temperature 09:10 - The Plastic Chair Example 10:30 - Longevity and Service Life 12:00 - Carbon Black and Sun Exposure 14:00 - Industry Standards 16:00 - Longevity Builds Wealth 17:30 - Risks of Cutting Corners 19:30 - Final Thoughts Related content: #133 | Perspectives on Pipe Quality: Delivering Generations of Yield with Tony Kime #129 | The Tipping Point: Accelerating Agricultural Water Quality & Soil Retention #07 | Engineering Water Quality: Bioreactors, Saturated Buffers & More “Perspectives on Pipe Quality” Playlist on YouTube Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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#133
Aug 19, 2025 · 38 min
#133 | Perspectives on Pipe Quality: Delivering Generations of Yield
This first episode of Perspectives on Pipe Quality opens a critical conversation about building drainage systems that truly last. Host Jamie Duininck sits down with industry veteran Tony Kime, Senior Advisor to Soleno, whose 40+ years in the corrugated pipe business have shown him what it takes to deliver a 50-year service life and what happens when quality falls short. Tony draws on a lifetime in the industry, including a story of pipe installed in 1971 that is still performing today. He explains how resin selection, manufacturing practices, and rigorous testing protect farmers’ long-term investments and the reputation of the entire industry. From the “Wild West” days of untested products to the importance of third-party certification, this episode dives beneath the surface to show why getting it right the first time matters for generations. Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome & Series Introduction 02:07 - Tony’s Background & Industry Experience 04:02 - How the Industry Expands, Contracts & Learns 07:10 - Why Testing Matters in Pipe Manufacturing 14:22 - The Cost of Cutting Corners 20:30 - Standards & Third-Party Certification 28:06 - A 1971 Pipe Still Performing Today 32:05 - Drainage as a Conservation Practice 35:00 - What’s Ahead in the Series Related content: #132 | Ducks Unlimited: Balancing Wetland Conservation & Agricultural Production #122 | Drainage in Ontario: Balancing Ag & the Environment #54 | Building Wealth Through Tiling: Insights from Canada’s OG Installer Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario (LICO) Find us on social media! Facebook Twitter Instagram Listen on these podcast platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Music YouTube Visit our website to explore more episodes & water management education.
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