Podcast Episode 116

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A Unified Voice & Vision for Ag Water Management

A Unified Voice & Vision for Ag Water Management

Episode 116 | 32 min

With Guests:

Keegan Kult, Executive Director of Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC)
Trey Allis, Application Engineer of Prinsco

The Agriculture Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) is giving a voice to folks in the industry. From farmers to drainage contractors and researchers to engineers, the ADMC’s success in offering solutions and implementing best practices like batch & build is making a difference for those shaping the future of water management. Trey Allis steps into the host seat to talk with Keegan Kult, Executive Director of the ADMC, on this episode of The Water Table podcast.

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We’re an industry-led coalition looking to advance ag water management... we try to give a voice to the industry.

— Keegan Kult

Guest Bios

Keegan Kult

Keegan Kult has been working with agricultural water management for more than 16 years. He has contributed to hundreds of edge-of-field practice installations, the development of new conservation practice standards, and to scientific literature documenting practice performance and cost effectiveness.

Keegan is the current Executive Director of the ADMC and holds a Master of Science from Iowa State University in Environmental Science with an emphasis on water resources. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Iowa State University.

Trey Allis

Trey Allis graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. He joined the Prinsco team as an Application Engineer in 2017 and primarily focuses on agricultural engineering. Growing up on a farm and in the ag community, Allis has spent much of his career focusing on Flexible Dual-Wall and the value it brings to the industry.

Trey (00:13):

Welcome to the Water Table podcast. I’m joined here today by Keegan Colt, the Executive Director of the Ag Drainage Management Coalition, or the ADMC. Keegan, thanks a lot for hopping on and joining the Water Table here this afternoon.

Keegan Kult (00:27):

Anytime, Trey, and thanks for getting me on here after I put in that request so quick.

Trey (00:34):

Exactly. Everything’s working out pretty good. I’m not sure, have you been on in the past or has it been a while?

Keegan Kult (00:41):

It’s been a little while, maybe a year or so ago.

Trey (00:44):

Gotcha. Well, good to have you back on. What we’re getting after here is a little bit of an update from the ADMC and what you’ve been doing here for the last little while. I know you’ve been pretty busy with a lot of the grants, proposals and different projects and all this other stuff, so hit on some of that, but maybe want to take a step back right away and just say what is this Ag Drainage Management Coalition? What is the ADMC and what is your role within it?

Keegan Kult (01:13):

Thanks, Trey. Ag Drainage Management Coalition … we’re an industry-led coalition looking to advance ag water management, working with a lot of the best management practices out there for tile drainage. We really think we’re the NGO that’s really focusing on all things water. We try to give that voice to the industry on what practices would work, practical solutions and then, how do we actually get these solutions out there to scale and implement them in a meaningful way at a significant enough level?

(01:48):

My role within the ADMC is Executive Director, so I get to do a little bit of everything. We do a lot of work to get membership, of course. We appreciate all of our members. Prinsco, they’re one of our diamond-level members, so it’s great to have you guys on board and be able to do things like this. We’re about 50% funded through membership and then 50% funded through grant and project work. You really try to find that balance. We’re hoping to grow the organization. I think the industry’s really seeing significance in trying to unify that voice, get the message out there and make it even bigger and better than what it has been for the past 20 years. We’re really looking to do that going into 2025 here.

Trey (02:33):

Maybe just touch on that a little bit more on what … that membership there. It’s a lot of pipe manufacturers and also, some engineering firms, some regular tile contractors and whatnot that are all members of ADMC. That’s what we’re getting after is, hey, we’re all in the same boat for a lot of this stuff and we need to have that unified voice of the industry with a strong vision saying, “Hey, this is where we’re going, these are some of the issues that we need to address,” Not just as a Prinsco or not just as an individual manufacturer, contractor, whatever, but being able to have that vision and keep going forward as the industry. That’s that role that ADMC is playing. Really important role which creates a lot of work for yourself and for everybody else, too, there. Maybe we can dive into a little bit of what you’ve been up to or what some of the projects that ADMC gets involved with.

Keegan Kult (03:30):

Some of the bigger ones that are taking up most of my time and I think about a lot right now is working on really the practice delivery. We’ve all heard the headaches and heartbreaks of trying to work through some of these financial assistance programs that are available, through no fault of the agencies, there’s just a lot of steps that need to be followed on that. I think a lot of these systems were designed for more in-field management-type practices.

(03:58):

When we talk about tiling-type projects and then the edge-of-field management of those, things are just a little bit different. There’s different barriers. Maybe trying to do it through a traditional cost-share program like EQIP hasn’t really yielded the best results yet, but we really think there’s ways that we can tweak it and put things in favor so landowners are interested in these projects. We call it the batch and build. You guys have talked about the batch and build quite a bit on this podcast with some of the different people that have participated in these batch and build programs, but we really are working on kind of developing that framework for the batch and build to really get it out there and get more people involved in being able to implement these.

(04:41):

That process is happening right now in Iowa quite a bit, and I’m excited to see that’s replicated. I know it started in Polk County, but it’s expanded. You had Heartland Co-op on here with Ruth McCabe a few times. They’re doing phenomenal work. I think they’re going into about year two, so they’re already putting in their first batch right now in two different spots of Iowa, then they’re going to roll up again and do it again next year. That’s exciting, to see that they’re still seeing that interest in there, they’re able to replicate it. City of Cedar Rapids is doing a really big one, as well. We’re trying to document just how that works and going around to different states, because other states are very interested in replicating this, too, especially across the Midwest right now.

Trey (05:23):

Maybe just to review that, the process or the benefits of doing things that way, maybe I’ll take a stab at it and you can correct me. Might be too simple for it but, essentially, it’s saturated buffers and denitrifying bioreactors or wood-shed bioreactors are the two main practices that you’re looking at with these edge-of-field practices. You go into a watershed and target certain areas saying, “Hey, I think a buffer will work on these certain outlets and a bioreactor here. Let’s put all these practices together, get the design work done and pitch that to a contractor to install it,” where you can look at that watershed, get maybe a few dozen of them done through this process versus maybe the onesie-twosies, if you have a certain progressive farmer or landowner that wants to do those on their own. Is that a decent overview of it, or what am I missing on there?

Keegan Kult (06:18):

No, that’s a great … and thanks for reminding me, I should probably step back and fill in those gaps for people, but that’s exactly what it is. We’ve taken the onus off the farmer. What we did … we really just sat down and looked at what’s all holding the process up to getting these practices implemented. When we think about it, a lot of times, projects are like, “Well, let’s just throw a lot of money at it,” right? “Let’s get that financial assistance up to 100% and see what happens.” There’s other barriers, not just how much something costs. We know it’s hard for a contractor, for example, to maybe take off from a bigger job to go install a onesie-twosie saturated buffer. They’re not going to want to mobilize to put in one site for half a day, because that just comes at an expense to the contractor. They’re basically doing that as a favor to one of their landowners. Then, same way with the designers. If we’re doing these one or two at a time, the engineering’s very expensive, because somebody has to go out there and survey. It’s much more efficient … “Hey, we can do 10 sites in a day instead of just one or two out there.”

(07:21):

We’re really trying to figure out all those things. We thought, “Hey, if we created this fiscal agent model,” or maybe not even … create’s not a good work because a lot of other projects have utilized a fiscal agent model, but what if we applied that to edge-of-field practices? That fiscal agent really acts as that agreement holder with the funding agencies, with the landowners and with the contractors. We just centralize it and then, all of a sudden, instead of putting in one or two at a time, we can group these things into batches of 20 to 30 at a time. Then, all of a sudden, the landowners are more excited about it. They’re excited for multiple reasons: some of the pressure’s taken off of them, they don’t have to hire. They’re not the ones hiring and managing the contractor. They’re not fronting the cost of this. A lot of times with these financial assistance programs, the contractor would have to invoice the farmer or landowner, the landowner would pay the contractor and then get reimbursed. They’re really just the middleman, at that point, so why can’t we eliminate that? That’s what we do with the fiscal agent on that.

(08:22):

Then, the farmers are also excited. Not only are they not doing that managing, but they’re like, “Hey, this actually is a big enough project to make a difference.” If we’re only putting in one saturated buffer in a watershed that has another 150 outlets in it, they’re like, “Well, what’s the purpose of that?” All of a sudden, if you can talk to them and say, “We got four of your neighbors lined up right now and we’re looking at 50 of those outlets,” then people are more excited to jump on with it. Then, on the flip side, I think contractors are realizing, “Hey, this could be a way to fill in the gaps. We got 15, 20 sites to do, that’s two weeks worth of work. That’d be great for … ” get their guys out there, extend their season a little bit longer. Hopefully, they can do these installs during the summer or before the big tiling seasons really get going.

Trey (09:10):

That was something that you guys, I believe, at ADMC proved out that in Polk County in some of those areas, some of those watersheds. Now, you mentioned it’s been replicated a few times and getting more popular throughout Iowa. Where are some of the hotspots that you were seeing? I think you mentioned Cedar Rapids and probably still around Des Moines area there, too?

Keegan Kult (09:33):

Yeah. It’s interesting, Polk County is probably almost maxed out now of sites, they’ve done so many. I think they put in 135 sites the first two years and then picked up a few more. Heartland Co-Op, they’re doing one in central Iowa and then a little bit southeast Iowa. City of Cedar Rapids, that’s east central Iowa. I wouldn’t quite call it northeast Iowa yet, but it’s on the verge of being northeast Iowa. They have a really big one. That one’s exciting. Their city is leading that. They’re going to have a few hundred sites go in over the next couple years with that. They’re putting sites in the ground right now, so that’s fun to see. Then, there’s just pockets all over the state of Iowa where we’re doing these. Maybe not quite as big, might only be pockets of 20 to 25 projects, but there’s coordinators across the whole state of Iowa that’s really making an effort to do it this way.

(10:24):

Our department of Ag and Land Stewardship, that’s how they’re focusing on doing these installations now. They see the benefit of it and how worthwhile it is. I always go back to before, we might’ve been crawling to get these practices in. I think now, we’re up to walking speed and maybe next couple of years, we’ll be running again. Now, we’re putting a couple hundred in a year. Hopefully, in the next three to four years, all of a sudden, that number’s a couple thousand.

Trey (10:53):

Right on. I like that.

Keegan Kult (10:57):

It’s exciting to see.

Trey (10:57):

I’ll just say that’s optimistic.

Keegan Kult (10:59):

It is optimistic.

Trey (11:01):

Keeping that trend going … like you said, it’s proven out the areas where it works and how it works. There’s not a reason … well, I shouldn’t say … there’s not many reasons why it can’t be that way, either, especially once you get that ball rolling with more landowners seeing what their neighbors are doing and thinking, “Hey, there’s already these buffers on streams, let’s run some more water through it.” If you’re not seeing any issues with anything else: you’re not backing up your tile system, you’re not eroding your stream banks and all that other stuff. You mentioned it’s win-win for all parties on that aspect and, if you have enough contractors be able to stay busy with this, too, like you mentioned, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities to have that get up to running here on some of this implementation here soon.

Keegan Kult (11:48):

We’re seeing that shift now where there’s landowners and farmers calling wanting to participate in this, not people going out the other way. The outreach is a very important component of this, the direct outreach model that we use and actually making those phone calls but, now, it’s been out there long enough that people are calling into the offices to say, “Hey, how can I get involved on this?” It might not be a majority of farmers by any means yet, but it’s definitely a shift from what we’ve seen in the past.

(12:15):

I like going back to that Polk County model. It really left a good taste in the farmer’s mouth, I would say, of just participating with and how intentional it was. It got them thinking about water management. Those farmers … basically, they treated every outlet on this four-mile creek and they’re like, “Well, we still got some of the really big county mains. What can we do here?” They’ve gone through now and they’ve done a couple of wetlands on there, so they’re working back up in the watershed now and doing different types of water management practices.

(12:46):

I think that’s where things like drainage water management will come into play. It might be really good to work with a new group of farmers and landowners in a watershed, do a batch and build, do saturated buffers and bioreactors, then, “Hey, back up further. If you’re not next to the stream, you can participate and do something like drainage water management.” That’s the one where we can see that return on investment for the farmers. Once they started getting more aware that they can manage this water, I think there’s going to be more and more interest on doing so. Then, of course, it’s all about having good customer service to actually deliver on these projects instead of turning people away.

Trey (13:23):

For sure. It continues to amaze me, but talking with farmers in … might not necessarily be in the most progressive areas or the most progressive farmers that I’m talking to, but just trying to explain what a control structure is or drainage water management, sub-irrigation, the theory of the reasoning why drainage water recycling can be beneficial, they’re like, “Oh yeah, well, I thought about something like that,” or, “You know, that’s maybe not a bad idea.” I’m like, “Well, technologies have been in place or have been around for decades and some of these practices have been installed that way, too.” That’s something that I think is not completely understood or addressed across the board. You can manage everything else: your fertilizer, your seed, your tillage, everything else that you have on your land, but looking at it with water, that’s not always the case. I think there’s a lot of opportunity there to start to turn that meter. Maybe not flip the switch, but start to lead in that direction.

Keegan Kult (14:24):

It is just a shift. We don’t have to do things the same way now that we did 50 years ago. We don’t. We’ve improved technologies in drainage as we’ve gone between clay tile to plastic pipe, now laser to GPS. This is the next iteration, I think, is letting people know we can manage this. We don’t need to be draining all the time. We all think about the spring of the year, when it’s really important and crucial to get out there and warm those soils up. That’s when we need that drainage to be doing work. Then, later, during the summer, even earlier than late summer, you can start holding that water back and let those roots grow down into it. Then, all of a sudden, we’re seeing that benefit. Usually, water’s the limiting factor on what those yields end up being. People are pretty good at knowing how much nitrogen they need to apply to get that yield goal but, as far as having enough water, that’s always important. Something we don’t always think about in the Midwest because we think, “Oh yeah, we got plenty of rain,” but that rain doesn’t fall at the right time. The more control we have, the better off people will be.

Trey (15:27):

For sure. Having a conversation with the previous guest, too, of that just gives you more flexibility with what you’re growing, your different rotations or your different tillage practices, your cover crops … essentially, everything gets to benefit from having that water managed under the surface. Essentially being able to build out your playbook and have more options, more opportunity for doing things a little bit differently, but it all gets back to starting with what are you doing with the water? What are you doing underground there, too? What else you got rolling with ADMC, other projects?

Keegan Kult (16:04):

Recently, we just put out a contractor survey this summer. We were excited about that. We got some good responses. Thanks, all of our members for pushing it out to their customers. That was a big help. That survey, we just really wanted to … we called it the pulse of the industry and that’s really what it was. We wanted to get in contact with more contractors out there, seeing what are the issues they see coming up in the next year or two? Same thing, what are the different opportunities that they’re thinking about for themselves? Where are they getting their education from? What type of education do they need? We haven’t released the results of that yet. We’re still processing and we will shortly, but that was exciting to see. That’s going into trying to grow what ADMC’s doing. We’re going to be doing a little strategic planning at our annual meeting come November. Input from that survey’s going to have a lot to do with it.

Trey (16:57):

I know that we pushed that out a few times to try to get as many contractors as we can to get good feedback. We’re always … been saying it for, whether it’s our design of our pipe, our fittings or whatever else, we’re only essentially as good as the feedback that we can get from the customers. Same thing with this, too, is we can put together all the technical literature or training-type stuff but, if it ain’t hitting the mark with what they’re asking for, then we’re flying a little bit blind to it. Excited to hear more about those results of that survey and figure out the role that we can play with more of that education and training, build up our industry from a technical standpoint and build up that base a little more, whether it’s these practices or just different ways that they can be running their operations and having an overall benefit for that, too.

Keegan Kult (17:49):

One of the things that we’re doing right now as well with that information: we’re doing a website redesign. Our website, a little bit dated. It was me, I think, trying to figure out how to use WordPress five years ago and putting it together. I think I put it together well once but now, trying to edit it, I don’t know if I did it right on the front end to be able to do it now on the back end.

(18:10):

We have some funding in place right now to do a redesign and one of the things that we’re looking at doing is this conservation drainage. We’re going to call it the resource center. There’s a lot of good information out there right now, it’s just broken into different pieces and on different sites. We want to be that trusted clearinghouse and get all that information put together in one place, everything from conservation drainage basics: what the practices are, why you would use them, maybe some cost estimates of the practices. Then, how do you get from educating yourself about the practice actually installing it? That process of working with different financial assistance programs … we’re hoping to incorporate that into the website and have some nice how-to videos of, “All right, here’s the expected NRCS batching dates.” That usually happens in March. “Here’s that conversation you should have with that district conservationist about these practices.”

(19:03):

Unfortunately, maybe not every county is really familiar with all these practices. You might even receive a little feedback, what to do in that situation. Have a list of names of people. The state conservation engineers are very well-versed in all these practices and they’re a champion for them, or they should be if they’re not. We’re working with those people right now, just so there’s somebody in every state that you can call and hopefully get some advice and answers on these things.

Trey (19:29):

That’s one of the main issues that we run into is yeah, you can talk to the contractor about some of this stuff, “Hey, you should be looking out for X, Y and Z for how to set up control drainage systems,” or [inaudible 00:19:43] that it works well. Same thing with the farmers. Once you do have somebody interested, then it’s like, “Okay, yep. Now what? Where do I go for some of that stuff?” I think that’s going to be a really useful tool for that website to have that information there and some of those how-to guides. Probably highlight some success stories on ways that it worked out well and showing some of the impact that we have on that, too. Be happy to help out and work with you guys to help develop that and see the needs that we have to keep the good work going.

Keegan Kult (20:19):

Well, it sounds like you volunteered, Trey, so-

Trey (20:21):

Yep. I tend to-

Keegan Kult (20:25):

… I got your name down.

Trey (20:25):

… Right. I tend to do that, to start talking like, “Oh yeah, hey, maybe that’s a good idea.” Absolutely happy to help on that front, too. We’ll be able to keep things going. I’m sure we’ll have you back on and give an update once we have it live and be able to walk through it.

Keegan Kult (20:39):

We’re pretty excited about it. It’s something that needs to get done. Like I said, that information’s out there so hopefully, we can get it all in one spot. We’re not trying to recreate the wheel or anything, but we feel like it’s needed. I think it’ll be a very useful tool.

Trey (20:55):

Then, another thing within ADMC that I believe you’re working on or that you have worked on is just overall working with NRCS and some of those programs that governs a lot of these conservation practices. You want to talk about some of your work there that’s come down over the last few months?

Keegan Kult (21:16):

Yeah. Probably the big one, and we were talking about it earlier, before we hopped on here, is the Climate-Smart Ag and Forestry practice list. Not to get into the weeds, but there’s a lot of funding out there right now through the Inflation Reduction Act, nearly $20 billion, going towards conservation practices. To be eligible for that funding, you need to have your practices on this Climate-Smart list. ADMC, through partners with the Conservation Drainage Network, have been working pretty hard to try to actually get some of our drainage practices included on that. We believe water management is a huge component to working with changing climate. It’s on top of farmers’ mind all the time about what to do with these bigger rainfalls and then episodic drier events, too.

(22:05):

We had a task force group that, through the Conservation Drainage Network, really dug into the literature that’s out there, had experts, people smarter than me, come together to talk about this, and they found that indirectly, these practices probably reduce greenhouse gas emissions and even somewhat directly, too. We did get a couple practices listed right now. Drainage water management and saturated buffers are both eligible. They did come with a couple big caveats though, unfortunately. Hopefully, maybe next year, we can provide more data to get some of those removed. The drainage water management, it’s basically looking at existing drainage in organic soil. Those are what … if you have a farmer that says, “Oh, I got this peat soil back here,” or this muck soil, that’s the kind of soil that they’re talking about. Then, with the saturated buffer, if it’s a new buffer going in, so if it’s previously cultivated, and by previously cultivated, they mean the last couple of years, then you’re putting in a new grass filter strip with a saturated buffer, then it’s eligible to be on this Climate-Smart list.

(23:07):

I will say, though, all these practices, they can be facilitating practices or companion practices. If you’re applying for cost share on something else, you can loop these in and get some of that Climate-Smart funding. If you’re doing some nitrogen management or cover crops, you can talk about drainage water management, how that helps with the cover crop field, then you can get funding that way. There is that avenue, but our goal still is to get these listed as standalone practices and hopefully don’t have [inaudible 00:23:38]

Trey (23:41):

A couple comments with that and one question with specifically … with, like you mentioned, drainage water management and peat soil or organic soil: if you essentially have a pattern tile lake bottom, that’s the application where this funding would apply the best, essentially turn that conventional drainage system into drainage water management or into controlled drainage. I got that right?

Keegan Kult (24:10):

Yeah, and you can make some changes to it. You can’t increase the drainage area of that but, if you need to change the layout of it, that is allowable to make it work with drainage water management. It’s very specific. That’s not a very widespread situation, although you guys in Minnesota might have more of that than other people in the Midwest.

Trey (24:32):

There’s some of it here and there but, as far as compatible acres for drainage water management, to me, that’s a very small piece.

Keegan Kult (24:43):

In the Midwest, there’s about 30 million acres that are thought to be suitable for that practice. That’s a very small footprint of those 30 million acres. Not even a percent of that would be my guess.

Trey (24:55):

Right, but like you mentioned, that’s where having more of that research or understanding and leverage. Like you said, all the smart people with a lot of letters after their names at the CDN to be able to justify more or to give that backing more to that point of saying, “Hey, we got our foot in the door with the organic soil but, if we can scale that out a little bit more and make all acres applicable for this,” that’s where you’d actually get some more momentum with it.

Keegan Kult (25:27):

Definitely. Even if it’s not directly on that for all acres, there’s still other funding opportunities available for it and we’re still working on that. Drainage water management … it’s one of those practices that we think there’s a return for the farmer on it, too, so hopefully, we can get out in front of more farmers and show them that benefit and that value of controlling your drainage, getting that ROI back. I think more farmers might be willing to forego some of the programs out there just to install it on their own dime because they can see the value in it.

Trey (26:03):

Then, also wanted to hit on what you mentioned with the saturated buffers. You said that stipulation, it’s currently [inaudible 00:26:11] … essentially, if you have ditch bank, stream bank that doesn’t have a buffer on it currently, it’s currently being cultivated, you have tile all running through there, if you’re going vegetate it, might as well put a saturated buffer in there, as well. If you’re converting that to regular riparian buffer and then saturate it, that would be the application there. I got that one tracking right?

Keegan Kult (26:35):

Yeah, that’s exactly it, Trey. There are probably quite a few spots where that will work. Right now, probably a majority of the saturated buffers we see go in are on existing buffer strip. That’s why it’s an attractive practice because generally, we’re not taking additional acres out of production, it’s something that’s already been taken out of production. Then, we just make that buffer do more work for us by making it a saturated buffer versus just the traditional one. Once again, hopefully, we can pull together some more data, do some more monitoring with our friends there at CDN to provide that input to NRCS for them to consider next year.

Trey (27:14):

That’s the rolling timeframe? Every year, they’re re-looking at this list and re-evaluating if their priorities are set straight?

Keegan Kult (27:22):

Exactly. We work pretty closely … we actually have an MOU coming out with NRCS hopefully in the next couple months, and it’s basically just to increase that relationship. We have great feedback. Their national water management engineer, Alan Gillespie, does a really good job communicating what the agency’s working on, what needs they have and what information that they need to do their job. We try to fill that role and plug in the information gaps for them so they can improve their programs. They’re always re-evaluating what they’re doing and how they’re doing it, being that feedback loop from on the ground to what’s happening over in DC.

Trey (28:04):

For sure. Well, we’ve covered a lot and, like you mentioned, there’s a lot of stuff going on at ADMC and a lot of things that are keeping you busy, so I appreciate the time coming on here. Did we cover everything or did we miss anything else that’s on your mind or that you’ve got a high priority on?

Keegan Kult (28:22):

No, other than just there’s a lot of exciting opportunities, I think, especially for contractors hearing this, to educate themselves on these practices and what’s moving forward. We had a great National Water Management Forum there in Indiana this summer with LICA. Then, this winter, of course, the North American Conservation and Ag Drainage Expo will be happening in Indianapolis in January. Going to be a lot of great speakers there and opportunities to learn more and more about these practices in water management, what can be done and what it’s going to look like in the next five, 10, 15 years.

Trey (28:59):

That’s a good point. I know when we did the first … NACD, I’ll just call it that, National Conservation Drainage … anyway, or North American … Anyway, really great show. Maybe just to put an early plug in for it, like you mentioned, that’s the intention that they had setting up that show is saying, “Hey, let’s bring in all the industry vendors and then be able to bait in the contractors for that and have it be a contractor show. Then, also pair that strong education element with it, too.” Brought in a lot of the researchers and a lot of the experts within the industry to talk through all the things that we’re seeing and everybody’s respective areas of expertise.

(29:45):

All the feedback that I’ve got on it is it was a great success and that’s what contractors were after. They’d say, “Let’s go talk to our pipe salesman,” or plow salesman or trencher and then … but also, hey, everybody clears out of the convention hall and went up to the classrooms for a few hours to learn more about what they’re doing. I think that’s a really good show, good tool and a good avenue to keep spreading that information. I think you mentioned it’s in Indianapolis in … I don’t have the dates in front of me, but sometime in January, I believe.

Keegan Kult (30:17):

Yeah, later January. They’re expecting a big turnout at it again. I think they had 500 people come through that first year and maybe hopefully double that this time around. A lot of great chances for those hallway conversations in addition to what’s going on in the classroom. That’s just a great example of the industry coming together. Everybody’s competitors, probably, on that trade room floor, but they see the value of these educational opportunities and raising the tide for everybody.

Trey (30:49):

For sure. Definitely looking forward to that one. Then, here in the meantime, fall’s just kicking off, recording this at the end of September. Be keeping everybody busy with harvest and tiling season. Hopefully, we’ll have plenty of fall to get that done and we won’t get froze out too early, but …

Keegan Kult (31:08):

Yeah. Hopefully, everybody’s busy this fall, everybody stays safe and get us again to next year.

Trey (31:15):

For sure. Well, awesome. I appreciate it again, Keegan. Thanks for coming on and thanks for your time here this afternoon. Appreciate all your work, all the expertise that you have and sharing it on the Water Table here.

Keegan Kult (31:29):

Yep. Thank you, Trey.

Podcast Episode 116

A Unified Voice & Vision for Ag Water Management

Episode 116 | 32 min

With Guests:

Listen Now

Guest Bios

Keegan Kult

Trey Allis

Transcript

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Podcast Episode 116

A Unified Voice & Vision for Ag Water Management

Episode 116 | 32 min

With Guests:

Listen Now

Also Available On

Guest Bios

Keegan Kult

Trey Allis

Transcript

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