About 52.6% of U.S. cropland equipped for irrigation, including horticulture, was irrigated in 2023. Of the 95.9 million acres equipped for irrigation, 50.4 million were irrigated.

That represents a little more than 26% of the country’s 202.6 million acres of all farmland equipped for irrigation, which includes grasslands, range and forests.

The numbers are a little under the 100.9 million cropland acres equipped for irrigation and the 52.5 million irrigated acres in 2018, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Nationwide, farmers applied 81 million acre-feet of water in 2023 and 83.4 million acre-feet in 2018 with a national average of 1.5 acre-feet per acre nationwide in each year.

About 54% of the water applied in 2023 — 43.9 acre-feet — was pumped from groundwater wells.

In 2018, nearly 50% of water applied — 41.5 million acre-feet — came from wells.

The national energy expense for irrigated cropland in 2023 averaged $61.95 per acre for well water and $56.56 per acre for surface water. The energy expense for irrigated horticulture in the open was $142.95 for well water and $101.06 for surface water.

California

California, with the most irrigated acreage at 7.8 million acres, applied the most water in 2023.

The state’s farmers, including horticulture, applied more than 22.6 million acre-feet of water at an average of 2.9 acre-feet per acre. About 42% came from groundwater.

The energy expense in California to irrigate cropland in 2023 averaged $197.25 per acre for well water and $110.04 per acre for surface water. The energy expense for irrigated horticulture in the open was $142.95 for well water and $101.06 for surface water.

Idaho

Idaho led in irrigated acreage in the Pacific Northwest in 2023, applying water to about 45% of farmland at almost 3.2 million acres. The state’s farmers applied 5.4 million acre-feet at an average rate of 1.7 acre-feet per acre. Of that, about 37% was sourced from groundwater wells.

The energy expense in Idaho to irrigate cropland in 2023 averaged $71.51 per acre for well water and $56.53 per acre for surface water. The energy expense for irrigated horticulture in the open was $161.37 for well water and $237.51 for surface water.

Washington

Washington farmers irrigated 27.6% of their farmland, more than 1.7 million acres.

The state’s farmers applied more than 3.6 million acre-feet at an average rate of 2.1 acre-feet per acre. Of that, about 27% was pumped from groundwater wells.

The energy expense to irrigate cropland in Washington in 2023 averaged $50.90 per acre for well water and $49.70 per acre for surface water. The energy expense for irrigated horticulture in the open was $234.02 for well water and $112.58 for surface water.

Oregon

Oregon farmers irrigated 17.3% of their farmland, nearly 1.5 million acres. The state’s farmers applied nearly 2.5 million acre-feet at an average rate of 1.7 acre-feet per acre. Of that, about 37% was sourced from groundwater wells.

The energy expense to irrigate cropland in 2023 in Oregon averaged $62.93 per acre for well water and $44.06 per acre for surface water.

The energy expense for irrigated horticulture in the open was $136.00 for well water and $157.00 for surface water.

This article was updated to clarify the data pertain only to cropland equipped for irrigation.