MEXICO — In partnership with the Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is hosting a second field drainage tile workshop on April 12 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

This educational program will take place at CiTi BOCES in Mexico, followed by a short farm tour. Improving field drainage can help farm operations adapt to increases in annual precipitation and extreme rainfall events. However, field drainage is best understood within a larger framework of watersheds, soil conservation practices, and responsible layout & design.

Dr. Rebecca Schneider, associate professor in natural resources and the environment for Cornell University, will discuss the ongoing challenges agriculture producers face due to increases in precipitation. Her talk will include a basic overview of watershed ecosystems, discharge rates, ditch management, and common concerns related to runoff from municipal roadways.

A second presentation will come from industry representatives John Jondle and Tanner John of Allegany Services. They will walk through the history of the tile industry, data collection, installation techniques, and common questions raised by clients.

After the presentations, there will be a short farm tour at Wilkholm Farm to see a network of installed tiles. The tour will be led by Darren Adsit, co-manager of Wilkholm Farm.

There is no cost to attend this program, but registration is required. Snacks and drinks will be provided by Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District. There will also be plenty of time for questions.

Go to https://thatscooperativeextension.org/events to register. For further information, contact Joshua Vrooman, agriculture community educator, at jwv33@cornell.edu or 315-963-7286, ext. 200.