The 2008 USDA Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey found that 54.9 million acres of farm and ranch land across the United States is irrigated. This has increased five percent since 2003.

The USDA admits that water is the most limited, but necessary resource for farmers and ranchers. “For farmers and ranchers who are looking for more efficient ways to irrigate their land and ways to reduce their expenses, the results of the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey provide a valuable tool to help them make informed decisions about the future of their operations,” said Molly Jahn, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics.

The survey emphasized the trend in more efficient irrigation methods such as using sprinkler systems and less gravity irrigation. The survey also pointed out that 9,843 farms use recycled water.

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