Journal
Yard Drainage That Survives Winter Traffic
How falls, channel drains, and hardstanding choices keep livestock and machinery yards workable after prolonged rain.
A yard that ponds after every Atlantic front costs more in lameness, dirty livestock, and stuck trailers than the drain work ever would. Good falls are the first defence.
Aim surface water toward channel drains before it crosses main vehicle routes. Where slurry and clean roof water meet, separate them early so dirty water systems are not overloaded by every shower.
Hardstanding thickness must match axle loads. Thin slabs crack at gateways first; those cracks collect muck and widen under frost. Specifying the gateway thicker than the rest of the yard is ordinary agricultural practice, not extravagance.
Keep a clear plan for winter scraping routes so machines do not push debris into the very channels meant to keep the yard dry.