Drainage helps with:

• Aeration: Drainage improves soil aeration, which allows for better root development and access to nutrients and water. 

• Planting: Drainage allows for earlier planting in the spring because the soil warms up faster. Which in turn equals higher yields.

• Erosion: Drainage can help reduce surface erosion and runoff. 

• Field access: Drainage makes it easier to access fields and reduces compaction, which can damage the soil structure. 

• Yield variability: Drainage can reduce year-to-year variability in yields from poorly drained fields. 

• Crop damage: Drainage reduces crop damage from excess moisture. 

Drainage can be implemented using surface ditches, subsurface drainage pipes, or both. Subsurface drainage pipes are typically placed at a target depth of 4 feet. Before the 1970s, most subsurface drainage pipes were made from concrete or clay, but today they are made from perforated polyethylene tubing.