By Phil Kaatz
Farmers with fine-textured clay soils will usually have limited options to improve the water drainage in many fields with excess rainfall. An alternative method to subsurface tile drainage is a mole drain system. The mole drain is a budget-friendly system that creates channels below the surface of the soil and can be used in a field that is tiled or non-tiled. Michigan State University Extension will be hosting a mole drains demonstration field day on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, from 1 – 3 p.m. at the corner of Wales Center Road and Alpine Road in Smiths Creek, MI 48074.
Proper farm drainage has been proven to outyield a similar undrained field due to earlier planting dates and more timely harvest of the crop. Ehsan Ghane, drainage specialist at Michigan State University, will be discussing the value of good soil drainage and how mole drains can be beneficial in many ways to farmers. The mole plow is the tool that produces drain channels through the soil. The mole drains are an effective alternative system because they allow excess water to leave the field. Cracks produced by the mole plow facilitate more water movement towards the soil channel. This will provide opportunities for better soil health in addition to increased water drainage efficiency. The sub-surface drainage is usually 18-24 inches deep.
The field day will be held rain or shine, and no registration is required to attend. Farmers and others interested in seeing the mole plow demonstration are encouraged to enter the field on Alpine Road at the northeast corner of the field.
Source : msu.edu