USDA survey reveals decline in U.S. irrigation acreage and water use since 2018

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., recently published its 2023 Irrigation and Water Management Survey, revealing that 212,714 U.S. farms irrigated 53.1 million acres, applying 81 million acre-feet of water — a slight decrease from 2018’s totals. Irrigation acreage and water usage have seen a downward trend, with a 2.8% reduction in total water use since the last survey in 2018. 

“The 2023 Irrigation and Water Management Survey, conducted every five years, expands on the data collected in the 2022 Census of Agriculture,” says NASS Administrator Joseph Parsons. “This report offers detailed, comprehensive, up-to-date information specific to the agriculture industry’s use, management and investment of water supplies and irrigation systems.” 

Key findings include: 

• Cropland, primarily grain, oilseeds and vegetables, comprised most irrigated land. 

• 49.6 million acres of cropland were irrigated, with on-farm wells supplying 54% of water used. 

• Sprinkler systems covered 12.6 million more acres than gravity-fed irrigation. 

• The top five states by irrigated acreage and water use were Arkansas, California, Idaho, Nebraska and Texas.

In 2023, farmers spent $3 billion on irrigation equipment and infrastructure, with energy costs reaching $3.3 billion for water pumping.  

The USDA presented this survey data during an Industry Insights session at the 2024 Irrigation Show and Education Week, offering a platform for stakeholders to discuss trends and explore future innovations in water management. Full survey results are available at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.