Irrigation is not widely used on field crops in Ohio, but a more frequent occurrence of erratic rainfall and yield losses due to moisture stress over the past 20 years have caused more producers to consider it. Some factors to evaluate before investing in irrigation include:
Water Supply. Irrigation requires that a water supply deliver an adequate volume of water at an adequate rate over a period of time, without reducing other individuals’ reasonable use of the resource. Groundwater resources in many parts of Ohio are marginal in their ability to supply sufficient water, and surface supplies may be either inaccessible or of low use quality. The availability of more than sufficient water should be ensured before investing in irrigation.
Continuing Need. An idle irrigation device is an extremely expensive insurance policy. Most parts of Ohio are as likely to experience overly wet as overly dry growing seasons. Only farmers with a predictable and consistent history of water shortage normally recoup the investment in irrigation. Historically, traditional irrigation has been consistently profitable only for high-value crops.
Efficiency of Operation. Irrigation is probably better suited to the farmer with a few large fields rather than many small ones. Most currently used systems are best adapted to larger fields with regular borders. The cost of providing water at multiple sites and the time and effort involved in moving a system must be evaluated.
Compatibility with Other Objectives. Some farmers may be able to justify irrigation as a water management practice in certain fields if they also are using irrigation equipment to dispose of liquid manure. The main considerations are providing an adequate water source and ease of operation.