Water management
Keep water flowing to maximise field yield
EXPERT VIEW
Now is the time to sort out challenges with water, says Rob Burtonshaw
T
here is a lot of water around at this time of year and unfortunately that’s
unlikely to change for a while yet. The effect of water logging can be extremely signifi cant, and I doubt any farmer has not endured a to- tal loss because of excess water. But there are things which can be done to minimise the impact and cost. For the most part, land drains normally a metre below
the ground are safely protect- ed and need little attention. But they should not be completely ig- nored. Now, when it is still wet, is the perfect time of year to inspect them and carry out any required
work.Great attention should be given to maintenance and care of old schemes. Sometimes new in- stallations can be avoided by sim- ple actions which do not take long – although I should confess they might well involve getting wet.
First task The fi rst task is to walk your ditches. Check that the water is moving, pay particular atten- tion to any culverts under tracks or roads and make sure they are not blocked. Water should be mov- ing freely.
A relatively small bottleneck can cause water to back up, cov- er outlets and block drains. Try to note the position of outlets and see if they are running. At this time of year – and after rain – they should be.
Ditch maintenance If the outlet or ditch is not func- tioning properly, then no part of a drainage scheme will work. This means ditch maintenance is vi- tal.If outlets are covered by sed- iment, water cannot escape and
the whole scheme backs up. Often ditches have been aban- doned and layer upon layer of silt and other debris has built up, if this is the case a piped drainage scheme is lost but it can some- times be revived by cleaning out the silt.
If possible, maintain ditch- es section by section – a bit on this ditch then a bit on the next – and complete the job in a rota- tions over a couple of years. Per- haps it is possible to do one side of the ditch this year, the other side the following year.
Use the right tools
In terms of actually doing the job, use the right machine at the right time. Ideally a 360 degree exca- vator will be large enough to han- dle the work while putting you at a height where you can see what you’re doing. Clear away vegetation, ensure you can see the ditch well to pro- duce a smooth bottom and sides. Remember, you are returning the ditch to its original dimensions not excavating a new ditch – so re-
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Contact Feedwater to find out more at
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feedwater.co.uk/clo2
36 ANGLIA FARMER • MARCH 2018
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