Analysis of the Status of Irrigation Management in North Carolina

Abstract

Farmers in North Carolina are turning to irrigation to reduce the impacts of droughts and rainfall variability on agricultural production. Droughts, rainfall variability, and the increasing demand for food, feed, fiber, and fuel necessitate the urgent need to provide North Carolina farmers with tools to improve irrigation management and maximize water productivity. This is only possible by understanding the current status of irrigated agriculture in the state and investigating its potential weaknesses and opportunities. Thus, the objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of the current state of irrigation management in North Carolina based on 15-year data from the Irrigation and Water Management Survey by the United States Department of Agriculture–National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS). The results indicated a reduction in irrigation acres in the state. Also, most farms in the state have shifted to efficient sprinkler irrigation systems from gravity-fed surface irrigation systems. However, many farms in North Carolina still rely on traditional irrigation scheduling methods, such as examining crop conditions and the feel of soil in deciding when to irrigate. Hence, there are opportunities for enhancing the adoption of advanced technologies like soil moisture sensors and weather data to optimize irrigation schedules for improving water efficiency and crop production. Precision techniques and data-based solutions empower farmers to make informed, real-time decisions, optimizing water use and resource allocation to match the changing environmental conditions. The insights from this study provide valuable information for policymakers, extension services, and farmers to make informed decisions to optimize agricultural productivity and conserve water resources.