Two North Dakota farmers designed and built a ditcher that handles the tough jobs needed on a farm. Edwin Erickson Sr. and Edwin Jr. have sold 150 of the ditchers they developed. Their ditcher is a combination of a scraper, flat-bottom ditcher, landscaping machine and a small road builder. It will cut ditches while water is standing so farmers can save their crops from drowning during wet periods. The ditcher will cut and clear washways and ditches. It also helps farmers build and maintain terraces.

Special features of the Eagle Ditcher include a door that diverts dirt either to the left or right, a hydraulic terracing dirt deflector, and the ability to adjust how far dirt is dispersed (up to 120 ft.). The machine runs at 2 to 4 mph and cuts 1 to 9 in. deep. A tractor with 135 hp and higher can power the PTO-driven ditcher.

The Ericksons say the ditcher is durable enough to handle rocky conditions and most other conditions, from standing water to dry dirt.