2022 International Drainage Hall of Fame August 32, 2022 Des Moines, Iowa

1. A Systems Approach
To Modernizing Ag Drainage
In a Changing Environment
Charlie Schafer, President, Agri Drain Corporation

2. Faster, Easier, More Intense…
But still no smarter!

3. “Drain only what is necessary for
trafficability and healthy crop production…
and not a drop more.”
-R. Wayne Skaggs
The Golden Rule of Drainage

4. We can’t expect Norm to do this forever…
Modernization
Systems & Methods
 People
 Programs
 Companion practices
 Automated products
Drainage Water Management
A Win-Win for Ag and the Environment

5.  Production
system
sustainability
 Global
population,
growth, and
food security
 Competing
interests
 Weather
variability,
drought, and
flooding
Agronomic and Environmental
Challenges and Opportunities
CORN YIELD LOSS, 1948-2010
SOY YIELD LOSS, 1955-2010
Drought, 40%
Excess
Moisture, 27%
Drought, 28%
Excess
Moisture, 27%
Getting Worse, Not Better.

6. Changing Environment;
Social, Political, Regulatory, Economic, Climate
Do you believe in climate change?
Anomaly (inches)
+2.00 inches
per century
Annual precipitation anomalies in the contiguous U.S., 1901-2020 Annual temperature anomalies in the contiguous U.S., 1901-2020
Earth’s surface
+1.60°F
per century
The Des Moines Lobe, A Local Example.

7. Should we
be alarmed?
Mitigation
vs
Adaptation

8. How about a little
cruise control over here?

9. Build In Some Bounce!
 Profitable and sustainable, incentive based
 Site specific, automated, surface and subsurface systems for water
retention, treatment, reuse, and strategic release
 Structural companion practices, short and long term weather
forecasting, with local measurement and remote monitoring and
management, utilizing artificial swarm intelligence
 Designed to address water quality and quantity concerns, greenhouse
gas emissions, soil health and conservation, flood mitigation, enhance
wildlife habitat, and maximize yields
Design & Build Automated Smart Drainage & Strategic
Storage Watershed Management Systems

10. Hugh Hammond Bennett, April 15, 1881 – July 7, 1960
If Hugh can do it…
Our Turn. Our Time.

11. Charlie Schafer, President, Agri Drain Corporation
Thank You!
“Poor water quality, yield loss, flooding, and soil erosion
are symptoms of improper management or a
lack of adequate investment in
conservation infrastructure.”