Features
Editorial: Spotlight on the drainage industry

When you’re in the middle of a busy season, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and forget to give yourself credit where it’s due. That’s why this spring, Drainage Contractor launched its inaugural Cover Photo Contest, sponsored by the Plastics Pipe Institute. Running through the summer and into the early fall, we asked you to submit photos that best showcase your work in the agricultural drainage industry, for a chance to stand in the spotlight on the cover of our November edition – and you delivered.

The winning November cover photo was captured by Corey Getz of DIGS Associates in Moweaqua, IL. Getz says the company partners with industry professionals throughout the state of Illinois to provide a host of services, including full-scale watershed assessments, soil classification reviews, field analysis and prioritization of subsurface water management. McCain Bros. Excavating, LLC, was the contractor involved in this project – installing a sub-main for the University of Tennessee at the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station. DIGS Associates provided technical support and mapping for the project, Getz says. “Working with contractors, such as McCain Bros., makes our job enjoyable and stress-free.”

On behalf of our team at Drainage Contractor, as well as our sponsor, the Plastics Pipe Institute, thank you for submitting your photos and sharing your work with us. It was our pleasure to have an insider glimpse into the industry. Be sure to check out some of the great submissions on page 36, and watch for more highlights on our website and social media. You can find us on Twitter @DrainageContMag or on Facebook at facebook.com/DrainageContractor.

In our efforts to get to know you further, we’re launching another initiative this fall and winter. Like any industry, the agricultural drainage and land improvement sectors must continually adapt to meet changing needs and demands. We strive to do the same for our audience, which is why we need to hear from you. Please visit drainagecontractor.com/survey and answer our brief questionnaire. Let us know what’s happening in your corner of the world to help us paint a better picture of the drainage industry. Is it business as usual, or have you had to go beyond drainage and expand your portfolio as a land improvement contractor? Submit your thoughts and you’ll be entered in a draw to win a $500 CAD cash prize for sharing your input. The survey will close March 31, 2020. We intend to use your input from the survey to better provide you with the resources you need to serve your clients well, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts and views.

Launching new projects can be a daunting task – especially when your plate already feels full. But we hope you find inspiration among these pages to take a leap and try something new in your business too. And when you do, don’t forget to let us know so we can celebrate with you.

For a full view of all the submissions, visit our Facebook album. However, we’ve selected a couple to highlight below:

“Doing repairs on a windfarm” – Andy Bedolli, Buffalo, IL

“We spent all of February in the shop designing and making our dream a reality. Put into use this spring, our onboard double tile stringer nearly doubled out daily lateral numbers. Our three person crew can now easily put in over 50k a day!” – Darin Cantrell, Battle Creek, NE

“Goldflex Flexible Dual-Wall pipe being plowed in by a crew in southern Minnesota.” – Luke Geiger, Willmar, MN

“Just plowing tile.” – Keith Jacques, Petrolia, ON

“Getting the morning started in the fall.” – James Ramsey, Shelbyville, IN

“Aerial views of Indiana LICA field day!” -Chelsea Shamy, West Lafayette, IN

“Wide open prairie skies.” – Chris Unrau, Winkler, MB

“Our Bron 550 basking in the early morning sun.” – Chris Unrau, Winkler, MB

“One of the greatest treats of drainage in the west are the painted skies we see when working late to help meet the needs of our clients!” – Chris Unrau, Winkler, MB

“Drone Image from the Huronview Project on June 15, 2019. It shows the installation of contoured drainage by the team at Williams Drainage, highlighting all tracked equipment to reduce our “footprint” in the field.” – Alisa Williams, Listowel, ON