What is Farm Drain Tile and How It Works

If you’ve ever walked a field after a heavy Wisconsin rain, you know the story — standing water, soggy soil, and delayed planting. That’s where drain tile comes in.

Drain tile isn’t actually tile in the kitchen-floor sense. It’s a system of perforated plastic pipe installed underground, usually 2–4 feet below the surface. These pipes collect excess water from the soil and move it to an outlet — such as a ditch, stream, or drainage ditch — at a controlled rate.

Dried Up Drainage crew laying tile at a farm in Cross Plains, Wisconsin

Here’s how it works:

1. Water seeps in – The small perforations in the pipe allow water from the surrounding soil to enter.

2. Gravity takes over – The system is designed with a slight slope so water naturally flows toward the outlet.

3. Fields dry faster – By lowering the water table in the root zone, the soil becomes ready for planting and harvesting sooner, and roots get the oxygen they need to thrive.

4. Water is managed responsibly – A well-designed farm drain tile system doesn’t just “get rid” of water. It can be part of a bigger conservation plan to prevent erosion, manage runoff, and protect downstream waterways.

   
   

Why drain tile matters for Wisconsin farms:

• Shorter planting delays in our unpredictable spring weather

• Healthier crops due to better root conditions

• Less compaction from equipment because fields dry evenly

• Consistent yields even in wetter years

Bottom line: Farm drain tile is like an underground insurance policy for your field’s productivity. The right system turns wet, unworkable acres into high-performing ground — season after season.