If you were out and about in rural areas of the tri-counties during last weekend's storm, you probably noted a tremendous amount of runoff due to the frozen ground. You may have also noted how nice it was to have those grass waterways to hold the ground in place and filter out some of the sediment as it ran off. But my hunch is that most of you weren't out in the rural areas or on the township roads.

As I continued my trip through corn country, I came upon a number of road culverts that weren't working and seemed to be half full of sediment. On down the road I also noted numerous other erosion concerns that should be addressed over the next three to four years. But perhaps more importantly, I became increasingly aware that most of the property was owned and controlled by those who no longer live nearby. In some cases I knew that the landowners didn't even live in the state.

I became increasingly aware that absentee landowners, who are also profiting from the higher grain prices, have little knowledge of what is happening on their property and, in the end, they are the ones who must make the investment to make necessary changes. Landowners are the ones, not the tenant farmer, who should be most concerned for the long-term productivity of their property and bear the responsibility for the stewardship of that property. It's time to use some of the additional cash rent they have been getting the last few years and make that investment, if needed, in their property.

Don't know where to start? First, I would start to talk with your farmer, ask him about problems with ditches, waterways, structures, tile holes, and other erosion concerns he has seen on your property and ask him what he thinks can be done. But don't stop there. Remember you are taking a good chunk of change from this guy and the last thing he might be concerned about is the long-term stewardship of your property. Given the chance, someone paying a large amount for cash rent might rather just tear up your waterways and terrace out rather than farm around them. You should also give your local county Soil and Water Conservation Service a call and ask them if they can help you assess your property sometime over the next six months to a year.

But wait you say, my ground is flat and the last thing I am concerned about is runoff. In that case you are right; no problem there. But if you haven't kept up over the years, you could have a few tile holes or tile outlets, etc. that might need some attention. Oh, by the way, many of these practices are tax deductible and, in some cases, the SWCD has a cost share program to help.