NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — Farmers across the United States have seen major shifts in irrigation patterns over the past 25 years, according to new USDA Economic Research Service data. While total irrigated land declined slightly from 56.3 million acres in 1997 to 54.9 million in 2022, the national total masks sharp regional expansions and contractions driven by water availability, drought, and production needs.
Western states recorded some of the steepest losses. California’s irrigated acreage fell from 8.8 to 8.2 million acres, and Texas lost nearly 2 million irrigated acres as drought, groundwater depletion, and competing municipal demands reduced water access. Some counties also saw declines tied to urban expansion.
In contrast, several eastern and Delta states expanded irrigation to stabilize yields under increasingly unreliable rainfall. Nebraska rose from 7 to 8 million irrigated acres, and Arkansas added more than 1 million acres, surpassing Texas in 2012 as the third-largest irrigated state.
Operationally, the growth of irrigation in rain-fed regions reflects producers’ efforts to manage risk and maintain crop consistency. Meanwhile, water scarcity in the West continues to constrain acres and influence cropping decisions.
Looking ahead, ERS notes that long-term water trends will shape where irrigation remains viable.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Water access—not acreage alone—is driving where irrigation expands or contracts.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
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