While rain on Monday may have stalled harvest in some areas, the moisture didn't affect tile drainage installation. Komb Ag Services and K & S tiling had a demo day, laying tile across a 240 acre parcel of land.

Each lateral was spaced out with 40 feet in between, and Keith Loewen, owner of K & S, says this is because the field — near Altona — has soil that's a little heavier that sandy soil.       

DEMO

"The heavier the land, they closer you have to put the tiles," he says. "In sandy areas we do 50 feet usually, and where it's really heavy clay, we'll go down to 30 or even 25."

Monday's demo showcased more than just how tile drainage works. It also showed a newer method of planning.     

Komb Ag Services used the DigiFarm Virtual Base Network to collect data for the drainage design, through real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS and an operator on an ATV. Unlike a localized GPS system, this virtual base network doesn't require a base at the field.

"With this DigiFarm RTK, our range is basically limitless if you're within the network," says Komb owner, Marlen Bergen. "Right now, we've created a network for a few million acres in southern Manitoba, and it's growing."

Here's a look at what what tile drainage installation looks like.