News

Saturated Buffer Performance Under Alternative Weir Settings

Saturated buffers are important edge-of-field conservation practices to reduce nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) loading from subsurface (tile) drainage systems to downstream waters. The impact of seasonal management of weir elevations in the water control structure on NO3-N removal has not been well studied.

Estate Planning for 2026 and Beyond

Until recently, much tax uncertainty surrounded estate planning. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act doubled the federal gift and estate tax exemption to an inflation-adjusted $10 million, but only for 2018 through 2025.

Why Conservation?

As an Iowa soybean farmer, you know that keeping your farm productive and profitable is non-negotiable. But the pressure to conserve soil, reduce nutrient loss and adapt to changing weather is growing. That’s why I see conservation not as a trade-off, but as an opportunity.

Public Drainage Systems Already Subject to Strict Regulation: The Latest in a Minnesota Lawsuit

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) have formally released various environmental activist organizations as defendants from litigation filed against them and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). By releasing the environmental organizations as defendants, the MCGA and MSGA will proceed with the complaint against the MPCA as the sole defendant at this time.

The Drainage Crystal Ball

Thanks to a powerful computer simulation model known as DRAINMOD, and the results from a new study by researchers from three different Universities in the U.S., we now have a pretty good idea what future weather patterns will look like in the Upper Midwest of the U.S., and the impact they’ll have on drainage needs as farmers try to maximize crop yields.

EPA Guidance Eases Right to Repair Prohibition

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance this week allowing farmers and repair shops to temporarily override emission control systems for repair purposes. The guidance says procedures and tools to temporarily take products "out of certified configuration as necessary to perform maintenance and repair" are not prohibited under the Clean Air Act.

FY Funding Legislation Largely Completed - Construction Levels Maintained/Increased

By a vote of 217-214 the House completed action this week on five of the remaining six FY 2026 appropriations bills and President Trump has signed the measure. As part of the agreement to get the funding package completed the Department of Homeland Security measure was extended under a continuing resolution for two weeks while negotiations continue on ICE enforcement reforms.

Check it Out: LICA Drainage Conference 2026

It’s seemingly become a tradition for the Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario (LICO) annual Ontario Drainage Conference to be marked with a day of heavy snowfall or frigid temperatures – but once again, that didn’t stop a large group of contractors from descending on London, Ont. at the Best Western Conference Centre and Lamplighter Inn to take in a day of education, networking and a trade show.

FHWA Issues Further Guidance on Buy America Requirements for Manufactured Products

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued Q&A guidance on January 5 further clarifying the application of Buy America requirements to manufactured goods in Federal-aid highway funded construction projects. This new requirement became effective on March 20, 2025 when FHWA terminated its longstanding Manufactured Products General Waiver (in place since 1983).

Year Round E15 Not Included in Funding Measure - Council Established to Develop Proposal

A last ditch attempt made by Midwest Republicans with House leadership to add authority for year-round use of E15 to the fiscal 2026 appropriations package was rejected.

Edge of Field Practices in Agriculture

Moving toward regenerative agriculture by improving nutrient management and soil health is critical—but in-field practices alone aren’t enough.

How do we do this? With nature-based and engineered solutions installed at the borders or within farm fields—where farmland meets waterways, wetlands or other natural areas.

Design Approach Tradeoffs & Annual Performance Prediction for Denitrifying Bioreactors Treating Subsurface Drainage

Long-term empirical assessments of nutrient treatment technologies for agricultural outflows underpin the ability to accurately design, model, and implement such practices for water quality improvement. The conservation practice standard for denitrifying ‘woodchip’ bioreactors in the USA has existed for a decade but the performance of this standard has not been comprehensively evaluated.

Dramatic Surge in Water Demand Predicted by 2040 Puts Farmers & Industry on Collision Course

Deep inside a report on the future of water in central Ohio is this warning: Industrial demands for water will skyrocket at the same time experts expect farmers will need to regularly irrigate their fields during the critical growing period of July through September.

Effectiveness of Saturated Buffers on Water Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Drainage

This review clearly demonstrates the value of saturated buffers as an effective practice in reducing nitrate-nitrogen loads from subsurface drainage discharge. A summary analysis of nitrogen removal performance as well as cost-effectiveness is provided.

Legislation Introduced to Significantly Increase OSHA Penalties

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) has introduced the “Lets Protect Workers Act” which would increase penalties on employers that violate federal labor and employment law. Specifically, the bill would 1) significantly increase the civil penalties for violations of OSHA standards, and 2) resurrect OSHA’s “Volks” rule by extending the period during which OSHA can issue a citation for injury and illness recordkeeping violations.

Action on Ethanol Legislation Likely

The outlook for corn sales, the biggest U.S. crop, is in sharp focus in Congress in an effort to offer market relief for farmers. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) has again introduced legislation, S. 593, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, that would amend the Clean Air Act to allow year-round, nationwide sales of E15 gasoline (15 % ethanol blends) by applying the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver that currently only covers E10 fuel.

Springfield Plastics Donates $151K to Illinois Cancer Research, Care

Springfield Plastics has donated more than $150,000 to cancer research and patient services through its annual Drain for the Cure fundraiser.

The company presented a check for $143,550.31 to Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine and donated $8,250 to HSHS St. John’s Cancer Center, according to a community announcement. The donations were made during check presentations at each facility.

Design Approach Tradeoffs & Annual Performance Prediction for Denitrifying Bioreactors Treating Subsurface Drainage

This paper describes monitoring at ten woodchip bioreactors that were built between 2016 and 2021 in Illinois. A total of 36 site-years of bioreactor performance were assessed.

Rethinking Percentage Based Approaches for Edge-of-Field Practice Design Flow Rates

Additional flexibility in the design of edge-of-field conservation practices may help scale their implementation. Subsurface drainage flow data from fields ranging from 6.9 to 29 ha in Illinois (25 site-years) were used to assess design paradigms for denitrifying bioreactors.

Where Conservation Meets Production: The Benefits of Constructed Wetlands

Every farmer knows the challenge of managing water and nutrients; constructed wetlands are a tool that can help protect yields and improve water quality simultaneously. Wetlands, as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are areas where water covers the soil or remains at or near the surface year-round or seasonally, including the growing period.