On August  20-22, 2008, Missouri LICA contractors continued work on the University of Missouri's Drainage Test Plots at its Bradford Farm in Columbia, MO. (Click here for project details and pictures from the first phase.) Local landowners were invited to attend the field day, listen to presentations on drainage research results from the Greenley Research Center, and observe contractors installing the remaining three fields. Unfortunately, the rain we received on the evening of August 20 stopped the installation, but did not deter almost 100 landowners from learning about some of the benefits of sub-surface drainage and irrigation. Missouri LICA contractors will complete the installation project in early October, 2008.

We'd like to thank the following Missouri LICA contractors and their employees for donating their time, talent, and equipment to this project: Jim Bledsoe, Larry LaFollette, Buddy Hostetter, Bev Arnold, Chris Casteel, Jeff Lance, Rod Schottel, Mel Kleinsorge, and Jerome Boedeker.

We'd also like to thank the following Missouri LICA Associate members for donating their tile, control structures, equipment, and time: Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.; Agri Drain Corp.; Cooke Sales & Service; Craig Pipe; Fabick CAT; Hickenbottom, Inc.; Murphy Tractor & Equipment; Port Industries, Inc.; Prinsco, Inc.; Springfield Plastics, Inc.; and Tri-State Construction Equipment. Co.

Our list of thanks would not be complete without acknowledging all the help provided by the University of Missouri, including  Larry Mueller and his staff; Kelly Nelson; Peter Scharf and Bob Broz. The contributions of Eddie Hoff, a Missouri landowner with an installed drainage system, cannot be overestimated. Thank you to all!