By Andi Anderson
Illinois scientists are raising serious concerns about field inundation, a growing problem caused by heavier and more frequent rainfall across the Midwest. Field inundation refers to water standing on farmland for extended periods, making planting difficult and damaging crops and soil.
Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are now working closely with farmers to study the issue and develop practical solutions.
Larry Dallas, a farmer in Douglas County, Illinois, experiences these challenges firsthand. His land is very flat, which helps with planting and equipment movement but makes water drainage difficult.
As Dallas explained, “Heavier rain is hard for us to deal with because of the poorly drained soils and the lack of any roll to the ground. It's hard for the water to get away when the rain starts.” Despite installing drainage tile, intense rain events still overwhelm fields.
The problem became severe during widespread flooding in 2019. Dallas recalled, “2019 was a nightmare. We did everything in the mud and had a lot of crops drowning out.” Wet fields, limited sunlight, and delays at grain elevators added to crop losses that year.
Christy Gibson, an Illinois Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar in Crop Sciences, explains that field inundation affects more than planting and yields. It also causes erosion, nutrient loss, financial strain, higher insurance claims, and mental health stress for farmers. “We have to look at this,” Gibson said, noting that research often focuses more on drought than flooding.
Gibson and her team recently published research calling for urgent action. Although practices like cover crops and conservation tillage may help, more real farm studies are needed.
That is why farmers like Dallas and Frank Rademacher in Gifford, Illinois, are partnering with researchers. Instruments installed on farms help measure soil changes before and after heavy rain.
Esther Ngumbi, assistant professor of entomology, highlights the need for rapid response research. “We need that support to get out, get the data sets, and report back what we have found,” she said.
The long-term goal is to create flexible solutions suited to different landscapes. As Gibson noted, “No two landscapes are identical.” Researchers stress that farmer participation is essential. “I'm very much a believer in the co-production of knowledge and solutions,” Gibson said.
Rademacher agrees, stating, “It’s a win-win.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jj-gouin
Categories: Illinois, Weather