Tiling costs and returns

muckfarmer · Feb 11, 2018

Anyone out there tiling this year? What are installation costs running? Does tiling pay with current prices?

NY 986 · Feb 11, 2018

Tiling generally pays but to what extent depends on the crop and soil type among other factors. Some sands flow when wet filling tiles so precautions such as a sock for the tile may need to be taken. Insufficient grade or outlet may mean pumping which would be an additional cost. Need more information to know if practical. Probably would be best to check with your local FSA as they can advise best on soils in your area.

coonie minnie · Feb 11, 2018

Did a little this past December. Price is steady, no declines, but the tiler is a lot more available than in years past!

Cost, of course, depends on what you want done. In my neighborhood to have a professional pattern tile it you are looking at $800 to $1000 an acre. A lot depends on how big the job and what kind of spacing you are looking at.

We've installed a lot ourselves for less money, but as of right now I have a professional do it.

WGM · Feb 11, 2018

I had a 20 acre field professionally laid out and tiled a few years ago. Cost was right at $20,000. Even with today's commodity prices it's like putting money in the bank.

big tee · Feb 11, 2018

The old saying around here is "You pay for tile whether you have them or not"--haven't tiled for a couple of years-we are starting to put lines between the first ones we put in. We live 4 mi. from the tile plant and 4in. runs around 34-36 cents per ft. Installation would be 30-35 cents per ft. so at 60 ft. spacing it would take 726 ft. per acre x 70 cents = $508.20 per acre + the cost of the mains. We still have the old Steiger and the plow I built.---Tee

coonie minnie · Feb 11, 2018

Here we would put 4" on 40 to 50 ft spacings- closer in problem areas.

Bruce from Can. · Feb 11, 2018

I am on the last year of a tile drainage loan this year, phew!! But it has been more than worth the cost. Have my eye on another 20 acres that would be a much better field if it was drained too, so when the last drainage loan is paid off, I will probably re-up for another and drain my last field. It now cost right around $1,000 per acre, and will do your crops a million dollars good

J. Schwiebert · Feb 11, 2018

Here some are being put in at every two rods or less.

coonie minnie · Feb 11, 2018

Yes, there are people putting 3" in at 30 ft, too.

big tee · Feb 11, 2018

In the old days around here they would put the clay at 80 ft. When we started putting plastic in it was at 70 ft. then 60, then 50. Most around here is still at 50-depends on the slope and soil type. The 240 across the fence from me was sold last fall and they tiled that at 50.---Tee

JMS/.MN · Feb 11, 2018

I look at tile as the hired man who shows up (sober) for work every day, no bellyaching, works day and night, and does his job. And in the Spring of the year, he"s right back at it!

urbancase · Feb 11, 2018

I got costs for $750ac putting them at 30 feet apart, plan on doing this year.

big tee · Feb 11, 2018

Wow-you better sign him up. At 35 cents/ft. for the pipe the way I figured it he is just charging you 17 cents/ft to install them.---Tee

CBBC · Feb 11, 2018

Is that including the 4" perf or just the plow install? Correct me if I'm wrong...You're at about 1440'/ acre.

$750$/ 1440' = $.54 / ft. That's about what I pay just for the tile.
Grant

farmer boy · Feb 11, 2018

We were quoted $0.56 for 4" put in the ground, $3.20 for 8" and $40/connection.

paul · Feb 12, 2018

$700-800 an acre, 80 foot spacing. Did another 40 acres this spring, hope I'm caught up for a while.

It's so cold here one water hydrant froze up, little snow and lots of below zero temps.

Still, a couple of my tile outlets are still dripping. Working through the winter!

Had a tough wet year the past 2 years.

Really can't farm here without tile, and should pay back in 5-8 years around here. Dad put in the mains in his day, made it possible to farm the land but not well. The pattern tiling now was long overdue!

Paul

muckfarmer · Feb 12, 2018

3 inch or 4 inch? Tile plow and what kind?

muckfarmer · Feb 12, 2018

In the thumb of Michigan a guy told me going rate for plowed tile was 18 to 25 cents a foot.

muckfarmer · Feb 12, 2018

Costs money to make money. If u need tile,irrigation or lime u had better fix it first. Otherwise wasting ur money.

muckfarmer · Feb 12, 2018

Depends how long the runs are too. If 1200 foot runs is cheaper than 400 foot runs. Less connections.

muckfarmer · Feb 12, 2018

What kind of grade controls do you run on ur plow?

Bruce from Can. · Feb 12, 2018

I remember reading a story in a old farm magazine from the 60?s about two farmers, that farmed next to each other, both had some wet land. One one fellas solution was to by a big tractor with duals so he could root through the wet spots in the spring, so he could plant. The other farmer tiled his land , and just kept on using his same old equipment. At harvest time , the fella with the big tractor pulled into his field to start harvesting his corn , and was soon stuck not far inside the gate, mud everywhere. The guy that tiled his field, just went about his business, and harvested a good crop with no problems. After 4-5 years of this same sene, the guy with the big tractor had his farm for sale, saying ? you can?t make any money farming ?. The other guy bought his farm and tiled it. Just a story I read as a kid , but I have seen similar things play out in life.

muckfarmer · Feb 12, 2018

Awesome story. It is true. No substitute for tile.

Tiling costs and returns

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