Irrigators are moving from gravity flow irrigation systems to more precise water distribution methods using sprinkler irrigation systems. The use of sprinkler irrigation systems increased 16 percent from 1988 to 1994. This shows improvement in the use of water supplies. Of the 18,800 farms that discontinued using irrigation in the last two years, over one-third reported it was because there was sufficient natural soil moisture in 1994. Fewer than 1,000 farm operators discontinued irrigation because of shortage in surface or ground water in 1994.
Irrigation is big business.
The amount of water used varied greatly by geographic area and by type of crop. By state, Arizona irrigators reported a high of 4.4 feet per acre, compared to a low of less than one foot per acre in eight other states. Water for major crops ranged from a high of 2.5 feet per acre for rice and sugar beets for sugar, to a low of 0.5 feet per acre for tobacco. Wells are the main source of irrigation water. Half of all the irrigation water comes from wells and is used on over 60 percent of all irrigated land.