KANSAS CITY, MO – Many farming operations in the United States rely on irrigation, but the majority utilize pressurized systems to ensure affordability and to reduce waste.
Researchers with USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) have been studying irrigation in crops and have determined that peanuts, orchards, and corn crops had the largest share of acres irrigated by gravity systems (center pivots and drip irrigation systems) while rice, hay, and soybeans relied more on gravity systems.
Researchers also concluded that pressurized irrigation systems, particularly low-flow micro-irrigation systems, are generally more expensive than gravity irrigation systems, which precludes their use among lower value crops.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)
