Blog Posts

Photo shows wide shot of unplanted farm field with the far 2-3 foot edge flooded with rainwater. On the horizon a few trees, blue sky and some billowy clouds are visible.
Farm Drainage Series - Part 2: Why are there so many Ponded Farm Fields?
When heavy rains result in ponded fields, the cause is poor drainage. Old field tiles in poor condition and/or undersized cannot efficiently remove...
Historical black & white photo depicts large muddy farm field being dredged with equipment, many horses and people.
Farm Drainage Series – Part 1: The need for farm drainage and the current problem
Farm drain tiles are vitally crucial to the success of Illinois crop production. These underground drainage systems help provide good soil-based crop...
picture of a street with rain drops and text overlay stormwater management
Using stormwater to your advantage
As a child, my friends and I played in a neighborhood stream, catching crawdads. What I didn’t know then was this small waterbody was mainly...
red oak rain garden
Rain gardens offer standing-water solutions
A homeowner who is interested in eco-friendly gardening may want to consider incorporating a rain garden into their landscape. A rain garden is a...

News Releases

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Dual Extension program to teach rainscaping practices in Sycamore
SYCAMORE, Ill.— Naturalists and gardeners, homeowners, conservation organizations, stormwater professionals, and landscape consultants are examples of those who can learn how landscape design and management practices reduce pollution from stormwater runoff at a workshop hosted by University of...
farm equipment
Farm drainage case study shows adding or updating drain tile improves yield
HAVANA, Ill. - Central Illinois crop production began mid-1800s as settlers started draining the swampy prairie land. They were not able to grow crops due to excess water in the soils. As drainage tile installation methods improved, more and more land was drained. Over time, however, original...
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Videos

Farm Management: Stand Pipe

Learn the purpose of the stand pipes you see in the middle of fields. The systems can sometimes go several miles. In central Illinois, many of these systems are aging.

Connect with Kevin Brooks, Illinois Extension Farm Business Management and Marketing Educator at ...

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