Getting to the Root of the Problem

Getting to the Root of the Problem

The uncharacteristically dry winter has left crops searching for moisture and in most cases roots are growing down into the land drain pipes causing blockages.

Once the roots are inside the drains the crops respond but the blockage becomes increasingly more problematic, resulting in drain failures and high reparation costs.

Drainage isn’t front of mind for many crop farmers as the last six to nine months have been so dry. However beneath the surface the land drains are becoming blocked and it’s only in spring time when the damage really becomes apparent. 

Blocked land drains cause soil waterlogging, shallow rooted crops and crops that turn yellow and don’t respond to fertilizer.

We have seen acres of land completely flooded, which in turn has an enormous financial implications. Simple planning and drain maintenance will help to avoid this all-too-common problem.

Drain clearance by pressure jetting and flushing out roots will resolve the problem. Yet, while a number of larger farms have their own drain jetting equipment, the majority do not.

We are advising land owners to be vigilant and to plan ahead. Simple pressure jetting and drain maintenance will ensure that drainage systems are operating to full capacity. We’ve seen dry spells wreak havoc in this way in the past and want to avoid the number of incidents as they are easily preventable.