MISSOURI 2005 IRRIGATION SURVEY
Ray Massey and Mary Sobba
University of Missouri Extension
This is the 28th year the University of Missouri has collected data from
Missouri farmers on irrigation performance. The data presented here are the
average values for 31 irrigation systems that responded to our December
2005 survey. Individual farms may report more than 1 system. Irrigation
systems located in central Missouri (Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Monroe,
Montgomery and Pike counties) are included in this report.
The number of surveys returned this year was up. Survey respondents
included 24 irrigation systems watering corn and 21 systems watering
single-crop soybeans in Central Missouri in 2005.
Respondents reported that corn yields from land irrigated with an average
of 5.89 inches of water produced 157 bushels/acre compared to dryland corn
yields of 51.8 bushels/acre. Irrigated single-crop soybean yields exceeded
dryland yields by 16.6 bushels (49.5 bu/ac irrigated land vs. 32.9 bu/ac
dryland), with 3.0 inches of water being applied.
Sixty-nine percent of the systems were fixed center pivots; 29% were
towable center pivots and 2% were traveling guns. Electricity, at 43% of
the systems, was the most prevalent source of pumping power. Diesel
powered 37% of the systems; propane 5% and a combination of diesel and
electricity, 15%.
The water source was as follows: reservoirs were seventy-six percent,
wells 12% and a combination of reservoirs and wells 12%. Of those watering
out of reservoirs, seventy percent did not have adequate water. Sixteen
percent with reservoirs reported that their lakes were not full in June.
Page 4 of this report contains crop budgets using this survey data,
University of Missouri crop budgets and 2005 harvest time prices. Other
government payments are not included. This year the net return to land and
management for corn was negative $82.79/acre; single crop soybeans resulted
in $55.75/acre. Returns to land & management for corn was negative due to
the lower yield and increased input prices. The returns to land &
management for soybeans in 2005 was positive due to higher price. The
income change due to irrigation was $94.93 for corn and $24.41 for soybeans
(see bottom table of page 4).
| 2005 Irrigation Survey Crop Details |
| |
Corn |
Single-crop Soybeans |
| Number reporting | 24 | 21 |
| Average acres irrigated | 125 | 113 |
| Irrigated yield/acre (bushels) | 157 | 49.5 |
| Dryland yield/acre (bushels) | 51.8 | 32.9 |
| Increase (bushels/acre) | 105.2 | 16.6 |
| Inches/application | 0.88 | 0.88 |
| Times irrigated | 6.7 | 3.4 |
| Total inches applied | 5.89 | 3.0 |
| Missouri 2005 Irrigation Survey (Central Missouri) |
| Types of Systems | |
| | Fixed Center Pivot | 69% |
| | Towable Center Pivot | 29% |
| | Traveling gun | 2% |
| |
| Types of Water Supplies | |
| | Reservoir | 76% |
| | Well | 12% |
| | Lagoon | 0% |
| | Stream | 0% |
| | Combination, reservoir/well | 12% |
| |
| Types of Pumping Power | |
| | Electricity | 47% |
| | Diesel | 37% |
| | Combination diesel/electricity | 11% |
| | Propane | 5% |
| |
| 2005 Average Fuel Cost per Acre Inch: | |
| | Electricity (17 systems) | $2.32 |
| | Diesel (13 systems) | $5.66 |
| | Propane (2 systems) | $5.61 |
| | Combination- elec & diesel (6 systems) | $3.10 |
| | Average (19 systems) | $3.76 |
| |
| 2005 Repair Costs: | |
| | Average per farm (31 farms) | $1,237 |
| | Average per acre (130 acres/farm) | $9.15 |
| |
| Water Supply Adequate? | 30% yes |
| Reservoir full in June? | 84% yes |
| |
| 1996-2005 Survey Corn Yields, 10-year average: | |
| | Irrigated | 161 bushels/acre |
| | Dryland | 116.2 bushels/acre |
| | Difference | 44.8 bushels/acre |
| |
| 2005 Average Corn Planting Rate: | |
| | Irrigated | 28,270 stalks/acre |
| | Dryland | 24,854 stalks/acre |
| |
| 1996-2005 Survey Soybean Yields, 10-year average: | |
| | Irrigated | 51.1 bushels/acre |
| | Dryland | 40.8 bushels/acre |
| | Difference | 10.3 bushels/acre |
| 2005 Irrigated Crop Budgets (per acre) |
| | Corn | Single-crop
Soybeans |
| Income |
| | Yield/acre (bushels) | 157 | 49.50 |
| | Price/bushel | $1.90 | $5.67 |
| | Gross income/acre | $298.30 | $280.67 |
| Operating Costs: |
| | Seed | $44.17 | $30.60 |
| | Fertilizer and lime | 88.75 | 28.55 |
| | Chemicals | 24.00 | 10.29 |
| | Machinery, fuel, repair etc. | 97.48 | 62.08 |
| | Labor and Miscellaneous | 25.00 | 25.00 |
| | Drying @10¢/bushel | 15.70 | |
| | Irrigation fuel ($3.76/acre inch) | 22.15 | 11.28 |
| | Irrigation repairs | 9.15 | 9.15 |
| | Irrigation Equipment | 40.00 | 40.00 |
| | Interest (9% x ½ operating costs) | $14.69 | $7.96 |
| Total Non-Land Costs/Acre | $381.09 | $224.91 |
| Return to Land and Management/Acre | ($82.79) | $55.75 |
| 2005 Income Change Due to Irrigation (per acre) |
| | Corn | Single-crop
Soybeans |
| Added Income |
| | Yield/acre (bushels) | 105.2 | 16.60 |
| | Price/bushel | $1.90 | $5.67 |
| | Gross income/acre | $199.88 | $94.12 |
| Operating Costs: |
| | Seed | $5.34 | 0.00 |
| | Fertilizer and lime | 10.00 | 3.00 |
| | Labor | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| | Drying @10¢/bushel | 10.52 | - |
| | Irrigation fuel ($3.76/acre inch) | 22.15 | 11.28 |
| | Irrigation repairs | 9.15 | 9.15 |
| | Interest (9% x ½ operating costs) | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| | Added operating costs/acre | $64.95 | $29.71 |
| Added Income over Added Cost | $134.93 | $64.41 |
| Ownership Costs: |
| | Irrigation Equipment | $40.00 | 40.00 |
| Added Return to Land and Management/Acre | $94.93 | $24.41 |
| Corn | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| Irrigated | 171.2 | 142.6 | 157.5 | 145.4 | 170 | 160 | 152 | 163 | 191 | 157 |
| Dryland | 144.2 | 97.3 | 129.2 | 72.2 | 160 | 139 | 98 | 95 | 175 | 51.8 |
| Increase | 27 | 45.3 | 28.3 | 73.2 | 10 | 21 | 54 | 68 | 16 | 105.2 |
| Soybeans | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| Irrigated | 53.2 | 52.9 | 52.8 | 47.3 | 47.5 | 51.4 | 55.5 | 44.7 | 55.7 | 49.5 |
| Dryland | 47.6 | 40.9 | 42 | 30.2 | 44.9 | 43.6 | 43.6 | 30 | 52.3 | 32.9 |
| Increase | 5.6 | 12 | 10.8 | 17.1 | 2.6 | 7.8 | 11.9 | 14.7 | 3.4 | 16.6 |
|