Land improvement and fencing work will get into swing shortly. How well did your last drainage job work? It’s an important question – the costs are high. A farmer relies on common sense. If water doesn’t lie, if the grass or crop thrives, if the pipes are running, it’s working. But would a simpler job, at half the cost, have done?

Teagasc has installed electronic equipment on Heavy Soils Programme farms to measure effectiveness in a more scientific way. It will record flow rates of drainage water, water table levels and soil moisture content. Above ground, a Met station will record rainfall and evapo-transpiration of water. This will build up fascinating data – and tell which drainage methods worked, which didn’t and why.

Good fencing helps farm safety. If you haven’t the time or knowledge for the job, then hire a good contractor and use good materials. A good job lasts.