Field Tiling and Terraces

These images show Iowa fields that have been altered with tiling and terraces.

• What is the purpose of tiling or creating a terrace in a field?

• What is the purpose of the orange tubes sticking out of the ground?
• Are there negative effects when farmers add tiles or terraces to their fields? Explain your answer.

Students could:

• Complete a Notice/Wonder chart or analyze a video/photograph/document activity-See Primary Source Set in the related activities section.
• Research information to learn why (cause) farmers want to terrace/tile their fields and the effects of those actions. 
• Write a claim/evidence statement. Make a claim about the merit of tiling/adding terrace to a field. Provide evidence through research that tiling/terraces work in helping to reduce/control heavy rainfall on a field.
• Research why the orange tubes are used when terracing or tiling a field.

• Iowa Soybean Association| Conservation Drainage: Video describing conservation drainage.
• Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation | Terrace and Tile Lines: Mentions the “orange pipe” at around 3:00 minute mark. Calls it an intake.
• Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation | Why Do They Do That? – Terraces and Tile Lines: An article about why terraces are used in fields.
• Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation | Farming: Then and Now: Lesson plan teaching about how farming has changed over time..
• State of Iowa Historical Society: Primary Source Set Toolkit: Resources for analyzing a video, photograph, documents.