BackgroundOver the past several years downpours have become a frequent occurrence in the Red River Valley. Soils in the region are not able to absorb the great amounts of water delivered in such short periods of time, resulting in an increased amount of surface runoff that is often hazardous to crops. Standing water in a field results in significant crop losses and can increase the spread of diseases such as rhizomania, one of the more serious diseases of sugarbeets.

Another consideration with regard to excess water in fields is the inability of farmers to access their fields when there is standing water present or when the soil is saturated. Delayed field access can present difficulties in areas like the Red River Valley, where there is a short growing season. Obviously, it is in the best interest of the farmer to develop a drainage system that can remove excess water and minimize erosion. Such issues are particularly important to farmers working unfamiliar lands that they have only recently started farming.

 Use of DataHigh resolution IKONOS imagery was utilized by a farmer in North Dakota's Red River Valley to assess the drainage situation in his fields and to target areas for drainage ditch construction. The farmer printed the IKONOS image on graph paper and utilized laser survey techniques to map the fall-off of a proposed drainage ditch. This method enabled him to precisely determine the grade-setting required on his grader to construct an effective ditch. Both the grade-setting data and the IKONOS image were then taken out into the field and used during construction of the drainage ditch. The image served as a guide so that the course required to complete the drainage ditch accurately could be maintained.

 Economic and Environmental Benefits The obvious benefit of installing a drainage system in a field is the reduction in productivity losses due to inundation. The farmer pointed out that inundation can result in a 7-8% loss in productivity in a season, which simply is not tolerable in farming, where profit margins are typically low. With adequate drainage management in an affected field, a 2-3% gain in productivity can be achieved. At the same time, a successful drainage management system can also reduce crop insurance costs for affected fields, while also reducing the potential for diseases. Sugar beets in particular are susceptible to rhizomania, which tends to propagate in wet areas. Reducing the number of poorly drained fields will help combat the spread of such diseases.