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Irrigation 

Results from the 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

www.agcensus.usda.gov

(800)727-9540

ACH12-16/November 2014

Highlights

In 2013, U.S. farms irrigated 55.3 million acres, applying a total of 88.5 million 

acre-feet of water. The 229,237 farms that irrigated applied an average of 1.6 

acre-feet of water. This is a decline since 2008, when 235,715 farms irrigated 

55.5 million acres. Five states – Nebraska, 

California, Arkansas, Texas, and Idaho – 

together accounted for 52 percent of irrigated 

acres in 2013. The top ten states accounted for 

71 percent.

Irrigation is used to provide water to both 

open fields and commodities protected by 

greenhouses or other structures. The 2013 

Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey collected 

data for both acres in the open and areas under 

protection. Acres in the open accounted for 99 

percent of total water applied.

Water Sources and Distribution

Producers relied on three water sources: ground water from wells, on-farm 

surface water, and off-farm water from a variety of sources. In 2013, producers 

applied 48.5 million acre-feet of ground water from wells to acres in the open, 55 

percent of total water applied to these fields. (Table 1) 

Sprinkler systems 

were the most widely used distribution 

method on open 

fields, used to irrigate 

34.9 million acres, 

followed by systems 

that rely on gravity 

(21.5 million acres) 

and a variety of drip, 

trickle, or other lowflow micro systems 

(4.9 million acres).

229, 237 farms . . . 

. . . irrigated 55.3 million 

acres of farmland in 2013, 

applying an average of 1.6 

acre-feet of water.

Understanding the Numbers

The 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation 

Survey (FRIS) was a follow up 

conducted with producers who 

indicated in the 2012 Census of 

Agriculture that they irrigate. FRIS 

collects detailed data on irrigation 

activities and water use on U.S. farms, 

ranches, and horticultural operations. 

Because of a change in methodology, 

some data are not comparable 

between 2013 and 2008, when FRIS 

was last conducted. In 2008, the report

form for horticultural operations did not

include questions on the entire farm

that were on the general form. In 2013,

the survey collected entire-farm data

for all operations (including horticultural

operations).

FRIS findings aid in efforts to develop 

and promote efficient irrigation 

practices and ensure long-term 

sustainability of water resources. 

For more information on 2013 FRIS 

methodology and results, go to http://

bit.ly/2013Farm_RanchSurvey. 

Top States in Irrigation

(millions of acres)

Nebraska 8.3

California 7.5

Arkansas 5.0

Texas 4.5

Idaho 3.5

Kansas 2.9

Colorado 2.3

Montana 1.9

Mississippi 1.7

Washington 1.6

Source: USDA NASS, 2013 Farm and Ranch 

Irrigation Survey (2012 Census of Agriculture).

Table 1

Irrigation by Water Source, Acres in the Open, 2013

Acres 

Irrigated Acre-feeta

 Applied

millions millions %

Ground water from wells 37.2 48.5 55

On-farm surface water 6.4 9.2 10

Off-farm water 14.4 30.8 35

Total -- 88.5 100

Acres Irrigated 55.3b

a

One acre-foot = 325,851 gallons. Covers one acre to a depth of one foot. 

b

Acres irrigated is less than the sum of individual sources because some irrigated acres 

have more than one water source.

Source: USDA NASS, 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (2012 Census of Agriculture).
2 USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Horticultural Operations

Horticultural operations irrigate acres in the open as well 

as areas under protection. In 2013, these operations irrigated 524,227 acres in open fields, 55,406 fewer than in 

2008. Horticultural operations growing commodities 

under protection irrigated 1,405 million square feet in 

2013, up from 1,369 million square feet in 2008. 

Floriculture and bedding crops accounted for more than 

half of irrigated acres under protection 2013 (Table 3).

Table 3

Top Crops Irrigated by Horticultural Operations, 2013

 Area in the Open

acres

Area under Protection

millions of square feet

Sod 234,963 Floriculture and bedding crops 746.2

Nursery crops 202,121 Nursery crops 418.3

Christmas trees 38,395 Food crops 136.6

Floriculture and bedding crops 30,719 Propagative materials 68.7

Source: USDA NASS, 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (2012 Census of Agriculture).

About the Census of Agriculture

The Census of Agriculture is the leading source of facts and 

figures about American agriculture. Data are available in 

multiple formats to help all users, professional and casual, 

find and use exactly what they need. Tools include:

• Quick Stats 2.0 – an online database to retrieve

customized tables

• A new tutorial video – easy-to-follow instructions for

Quick Stats

• An API for developers - http://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/

tutorials

• Desktop Data Query Tool – a downloadable desktop tool

to analyze data without Internet access

• Agricultural Atlas – pattern and dot maps profiling many

aspects of agriculture at the county level

• Ag Census Web Maps – a dynamic tool to download

and analyze Census of Agriculture data in a geospatial

context

• Infographics – fun, informative snippets of Census data

and context

• Highlights – more documents like this one summarizing

key facts on a topic

A link to census data is also available on USDA’s open data 

portal, www.usda.gov/data.

www.agcensus.usda.gov

475,796 Wells

U.S. producers used 475,796 wells in 2013 to irrigate open 

fields and pasture (acres in the open) and commodities 

grown in greenhouses and other structures (areas under 

protection). The wells provided 55 percent of water applied 

to acres in the open and 59 percent of water to protected 

areas. The average number of wells per farm was 3.9.

Sixty-five percent of wells had backflow prevention devices to 

prevent cross contamination of the well, and 28 percent had 

flow devices to measure the volume of water used. Wells had 

an average depth of 229 feet in 2013, and the average depth 

to water at the start of the irrigation season was 90 feet.

Source: USDA NASS, 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (2012 Census of Agriculture).

Land Use

Cropland accounted for 95 percent of all irrigated land 

(52.6 million acres) and permanent pasture for 5 percent 

(2.7 million acres). The crops with the most land irrigated 

were (in millions of acres): corn for grain or seed (13.3), 

soybeans for beans (7.4), and alfalfa (5.5).

Irrigation Expenses

Energy costs associated with pumping water on the farm 

(from both wells and surface water) are the largest category of irrigation expenses. In 2013, total U.S. energy costs 

of irrigation were $2.7 billion, with electricity accounting for 

$1.8 billion. The combined costs of equipment, facilities, 

land improvements, and computer technology were $2.6 

billion. (Table 2) 

Producers spent $521.9 million on water conservation efforts affecting 2.7 million acres and $118.8 million on efforts 

to conserve energy on 927,091 acres. 

Table 2

Major Irrigation Expenses, 2013

Total U.S.

$ billions

Avg. per Farm

$

Energy for pumping water (wells and surface) 2.7 17,238

Of which: electricity 1.8 14,251

Equipment, facilities, land improvement, 

computer technology

2.6 29,717

Of which: new or replacement equipment 1.9 23,505

Hired and contract labor 0.9 24,861

Source: USDA NASS, 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (2012 Census of Agriculture).