ERS Looks at Trends In Irrigation

Every decade, or so, USDA looks at trends in irrigated agriculture, over time.

"In 2017, approximately 54% of all the value created in crop sales was attributable to irrigated farms and that's on less than 20% of harvested cropland,: noted the ERS' Aaron Hrozencik. Meaning irrigated ag accounts for a small amount of total cropland. Yet, a larger amount of high value commodities.

"[Also], between 1969 and 2018, water used per acre irrigated had decreased from 1 to 2 acre-feet, which is a volume of water, to less than 1.5 acre-feet."

Thanks to both changing cropping patterns and changing methods of irrigation.

"What we've seen in this transitioning away from less efficient, gravity means of irrigation, to more efficient, pressurized irrigation.  And that just means that we're able to get similar yields with less water applied."

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