BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension invites the public to the 25th annual Tri-State Drainage Research Forum this fall in Minnesota.
Researchers, farmers, agricultural professionals, conservationists and drainage stakeholders from across Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota will gather for this regional forum focused on advancing agricultural drainage, water management and conservation.
The forum is Oct. 1, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CDT at Bass Pro Shop, in Owatonna, Minnesota. Registration is $80 for professionals until Sept. 15 and $99 after, or $40 for students. Students who present a poster may register for $20. To register, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search "drainage".
"Agricultural drainage continues to evolve as producers and water managers balance crop production, water availability, nutrient management, climate variability and downstream water quality," said Sushant Mehan, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Water Resource Engineer Specialist. "This forum is designed to move the conversation beyond individual research projects by asking how new knowledge can be applied at the farm and watershed scales."
An optional field tour will take place on Sept. 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. CDT at the University of Minnesota Waseca Southern Research and Outreach Center. The tour will visit long-term drainage research plots and other drainage sites with University of Minnesota researchers and Extension specialists, highlighting current drainage research, conservation practices and potential on-farm applications.
The forum will include presentations from leading experts in water drainage and storage, panel discussions and networking opportunities with leaders from the tri-state area. Representatives from South Dakota and Minnesota will also feature the most recent funded research and extension projects to establish drainage hubs in those states under the Sustainable Water Innovation & Technology for Crop Health & Ecosystem Services (SWITCHES) Cooperative program funded by the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR).
A featured panel on drainage research and education needs will bring together perspectives from research, industry, producers and drainage organizations to discuss where drainage science and outreach should go next.
Participants will also hear about drainage water recycling, nutrient-reduction strategies, automated drainage systems, new decision-support approaches and projects designed to improve the management of water within agricultural fields and downstream.
Other topics include multi-purpose grassed waterways, estimating nitrogen reduction from wetlands and bioreactors and Iowa's new Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Consultation Tool (N-FACT).
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit the University of Minnesota Extension's event page. With questions, contact Sushant Mehan, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Water Resource Engineer Specialist.
This article originally appeared on Handout: 25th annual Tri-State Drainage Research Forum brings latest research to Owatonna, Minnesota