A workshop on farm tiling systems will be offered March 20 by Iowa State University Extension in Humboldt, Iowa. Subsurface drainage, commonly known as ag tile systems, is an important part of farming systems in Iowa, according to Iowa State University engineers who will conduct the workshop.

The 2009 Farmland Drainage Workshop will cover the basics of building or retrofitting current systems and introduce new technologies, such as bioreactors, controlled drainage and wetlands, that reduce the negative environmental effects of tiling systems.

"While drainage systems are important and many times essential for crop production, we need to understand the water quality effects of subsurface drainage and methods to minimize potential consequences on downstream water bodies" says Matt Helmers, ISU Extension agricultural engineer.

The March 20 program begins at 9 a.m. and adjourns at 3:30 p.m. It will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church located at 1005 11th Avenue North in Humboldt. The program is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension, industry partners, and USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The pre-registration fee, including lunch and refreshments, is $15 for those registered by March 17. Registrations after the pre-registration deadline will be $25. Walk-in registrations will only be accepted if space is available.

Registration information is available online www.extension.iastate.edu/humboldt or by calling ISU Extension's Humboldt County office at 515-332-2201.