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General Information
Producing food and fiber in Georgia takes a lot of hard work
and a lot of water. Irrigation is a critical aspect of agricultural
life in Georgia. Many farmers have been practicing water conservation
for decades. It not only saves water, but also saves money.
Estimates indicate that potential savings from improved agricultural
water management and irrigation systems can be as much as 50%.
This potential increases every year, thanks to improved technology
and innovative on-farm management practices (1).
For more information about applying for an agricultural water use permit, click here.
Here are some examples of conservation measures practiced by Georgia's agricultural community:
- Metering water usage. In 2003, a new law was passed to support agricultural water use metering. This effort will help the state make more accurate estimates about agricultural water use in Georgia. Go to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission website for more information regarding the metering project. Click here for a copy of the 2003 legislation
- Installing state-of-the-art technologies. Georgia is home to one of North America's first variable rate irrigation systems. This high tech center-pivot irrigation system only applies water where and when it is needed, reducing runoff and waste. Visit the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory (NESPAL) website (http://www.nespal.org/vri/home) for more news of this and other innovative projects underway in Georgia.
- Checking for and repairing leaks in irrigation systems. One major source of water loss and waste is leaky irrigation equipment. Repairing wasteful operations is critical to conserving water and reducing costs of operation.
- Managing your fields to reduce water needs. Farmers
in Georgia are consulting with University of Georgia scientists
and others to develop site management plans to help reduce water
use, waste, and loss. Irrigation schedules are designed to provide
the right amount of water at the time when crops need it the
most. Further, practicing conservation tillage can reduce
water loss from evaporation.
- Practice Conservation Tillage to reduce irrigation needs. A recent report published by the University of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Agriculture states that conservation tillage helps reduce water demands of agricultural users. As the practice of conservation tillage increases, estimated water savings can be as much as 40 - 70% savings. Click here for the report or contact Dr. Gary Hawkins with the UGA College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at 229-386-3377.
Choosing the right type of irrigation equipment can reduce water
waste significantly. Automated irrigation systems can save water,
time, and money. For more information about other management
practices, go to the Natural Resource Conservation Service
- Using drip irrigation . Many farmers use drip irrigation to water their crops. A tube delivers droplets of water directly to the root of plants. This allows farmers to carefully control the amount of water and fertilizer given to plants so that less water is lost to evaporation.
- Choosing crops that require less water. High-water
using plants can rapidly diminish the water available to other
users in the community or watershed. While some high-water-using
plants can produce highcrop yields, drought conditions can make
it difficult to get enough water to produce a healthy crop.
- Apply reuse or reclaimed water where possible (golf
courses and lawns especially). Reclaimed water, or wastewater
that is highly treated but not potable (drinkable), is a good
alternative to potable surface water or groundwater. If your
operation is located near an industry or an urban center, investigate
the possibility of using reclaimed water rather than drinkable
water. It will help your community reduce the cost of treatment
and save the resource.
The Georgia EPD is working with local farmers and citizens from the Lower Flint River Basin to create a Water Development and Conservation Plan. The Plan will involve a comprehensive review of water development, conservation, and sustainable use. Using the latest scientific information, the plan will also serve to promote the conservation and reuse of water, guard against a shortage of water, and promote efficient use of the resource. For more information, please go to EPD's Flint River Basin Planning website.
Georgia Agricultural Water Facts and More
- In 2000 Georgia ranked second in acreage of cotton and rye, third in production of peaches and tomatoes, and fifth in tobacco acreage and value of production. (3)
- Georgia has 11.1 million acres of land devoted to farms, with
an average farm size of 222 acres. (3)
- In 2000, there were 3,293,000 acres of field crops harvested. (3)
- There are 16,500 estimated irrigation systems in Georgia. (2)
- In 2000, a drought year, agricultural water use in Georgia (irrigation and livestock combined) is estimated to be 1,126.83 million gallons per day. (4)
- In 1970, the state of Georgia had about 144,000 agricultural acres under irrigation. By 1998, there were 1,500,000 acres irrigated. (5)
Helpful links
Information used for this site was gathered from these sources:
- Vickers, A. 2001. Handbook of water use and conservation: homes, landscapes, businesses, industries, farms. Waterplow Press. 446 pgs.
- Hook, Harrison, and Hoogenboom. 2005. Ag Water Pumping. Project Report 52. Statewide Irrigation Monitoring. EPD Cooperative Agreement Number: 764-890147. UGA ID 25-21-RF327-107
- www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
- Fanning. 2003. Water use in Georgia by county for 2000 and Water-Use trends for 1980-2000.
- http://www.nespal.org/vri/home/main.asp?targetDir=5
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