Minnesota farmers experienced some wacky weather in 2024. Way too wet, way too dry — and all in the same field! Although yields took some hits, they were better overall than many expected.

In quite a few instances, the unsung hero to good yields is soil and its amazing capacity to hold water. Crops that survived spring flooding only to experience little rain throughout the remainder of the growing season did surprisingly well.

Huge spring rains also revealed areas we may need to address, particularly in a ditch design. Contour-tiled fields showed their value, and once again tile has been singled out as a primary contributor to downstream flooding.

Main culprit: Runoff

The reality is that when spring flooding was happening, the primary cause was massive volumes of surface runoff. The result was flooding of low-lying areas, sometimes due to tiles backing up, reducing flow by temporarily storing floodwater.

A comparison of stream and tile hydrographs clearly shows the influence of surface runoff during these high-flow periods.

The remainder of the growing season was much drier than normal for many. Reduced yields have farmers wondering “what if I could have stored some of that spring rain and reused it later?”

Consider the houseplant: good soil and the ability to add water whenever needed, with drain holes in the bottom for when you accidentally add too much.

Related:Minnesota farmers named inaugural Leopold Conservation Award recipients

About 4% of Minnesota cropland is irrigated. The cropland is made up mostly of coarse sands, which are great for drainage but not so great for its water-holding ability.

Adding water reduces yield risk but requires an investment in the irrigation system and energy to operate it. Some also worry about groundwater use.

What if a system could be designed to capture water from drainage systems during wet periods, store it adjacent to farmland, and then irrigate during dry periods? We experience such combinations often.

Typically, tile flow amounts to about 5 inches per acre annually. And the shortfall in July and August is somewhat less than this. So, it seems logical that such a recycling system would work, but what would it cost?

More research needed

Research is underway in Iowa that could help answer questions about the engineering, costs and feasibility of water recycling.

Here in Minnesota, a few farmers have begun exploring strategies to subirrigate, which is one piece of the puzzle.

Minnesota farmers and farm organizations will continue to advocate for research and development programs that allow for ongoing innovation, leading to better management options for both soil and water.

Related:What soil types are in your field?