Minnesota/Wisconsin Engineering Notes

February 2004 Postharvest and Alternative Energy Info on Web Your Farm Doesn’t Have to Smell that Bad Science-based Information on Manure Management Issues Competitive Milking? Bedded Pack Housing For Dairy Cows Livestock Ventilation Design—Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality Concerns EDEN – Extension Disaster Education Network Workshops on Food System Terrorist Threats Irrigated Acres Update New Book and Companion CD Focus on Dairy Replacements Resources Calendar

Irrigated Acres Update Jerry Wright, Minnesota Extension Engineer The water appropriation permit data from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources files this fall shows that Minnesota irrigated acreage for 2002 was slightly less compared to 2001. According to the DNR’s annual pumping reports for the 2002 growing season from Minnesota irrigators 422,474 acres were irrigated during 2002 season compared to 440,843 acres in 2001 and 432,888 in 2000. The DNR database currently lists that there are 551,399 acres permitted (this includes 27,111 wild rice acres) across the state from a total of 4,157 registered irrigation permits within 80 counties. In the 2002-DNR pumpage reports, Minnesota irrigators reported they irrigated at least 177,000 acres of corn; 95,000 acres of soybeans; 40,000 acres of potatoes; 32,000 acres of dry beans; 22,000 acres of alfalfa; 6,900 acres of sugar beets and 15,000 acres of canning crops. The 2002 reports indicate that irrigated soybean and potato acreages were down around 10% from the 2001 season while irrigated sugar beet and dry beans acres were slightly larger than in 2001. The table below lists irrigated data for the largest 15 irrigated counties in the state: 2002 Reported Irrigated Acres 2002 2003 COUNTY Irrigated Corn Potato Soybeans Dry Beans S Corn Permits Permits Otter Tail 57,991 21,403 9,882 11,226 8,565   68,195 67,367 Pope 43,443 19,711 887 12,958 2,085 2,187 42,986 42,700 Dakota 43,166 21,570 834 13,300 20 3,142 50,624 50,969 Sherburne 34,824 14,635 8,106 7,262 1,472 1,569 40,373 40,210 Stearns 33,446 16,109 815 8,598 1,678 597 43,865 43,584 Swift 25,670 14,861 454 8,946 766   31,530 31,410 Wadena 20,410 8,825 3,039 1,790 2,748   23,276 23,361 Hubbard 19,037 6,175 4,355 942 5,822 30 20,205 20,340 Morrison 14,133 6,185 2,289 875 2,647   18,780 19,022 Stevens 12,766 6,864   4,549 303   14,156 14,207 Benton 11,596 5,239 2,990 674 1,641 21 14,614 14,711 Todd 10,816 4,900 1,862 1,664 1,322 40 17,422 17,161 Becker 9,039 738 2,783 2,606 1,671   10,477 10,618 Kandiyohi 5,769 3,576 65 1,066 180 198 10,287 10,077 Polk 4,724 168 191 140 62   12,530 11,629 State Total 422,474 177,035 40,094 94,983 32,542 9,085 554,385 551,399 2001 Total 440,843 177,077 43,916 113,473 27,420 9,442     2000 Total 432,888 182,448 47,688 95,856 31,268 9,543     1996 Total 401,101 191,954 41,640 49,221 37,154       1984 Total 301,755 150,662 19,114 48,971 11,784 7000?     1974 Total 111,233               1960 Total 20,000               If you would like a more detailed summary of permitted and irrigated acres by county contact Jerry Wright, Extension Engineer, at 320-589-1711 or e-mail jwright@umn.edu at the West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota near Morris.

The information given in this publication is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.