The Red River Basin Commission (RRBC), along with a number of partners, has developed a tile drainage by-law template to assist municipalities with the approval process.
“It is to assist them in understanding tile, their role in the approval process, and the Provincial role”’ says Steve Strang, Manitoba Director of the RRBC. "Just granting an approval or just saying 'no' does not work. Councils need to understand the request before them."
Tile drainage is becoming widely used in many municipalities in Manitoba as it can greatly increase productivity and profitability for farmers. The system removes excess water from soil below the surface. Tile drainage lowers the water table and creates soil moisture levels optimal for crop growth. Tile can increase drying of soil in spring allowing for earlier planting, deepened rooting by crops, increased yield reliability, among other benefits. Under certain circumstances it has almost doubled the net profit that producers are getting off their acreages.
“There is a wide range of conditions across the landscapes and soils of agri-Manitoba,” said Mitchell Timmerman with Manitoba Agriculture. “The appropriate intensity of drainage may vary from site to site. This is a regulated practice, so it is important for everyone to understand that the role they play is vital for getting it right the first time. Effectively and sustainably managing drainage is a complex challenge and shared responsibility.”
Source : Steinbachonline