United States Department of Agriculture

The 2023 Irrigation and Water Management Survey (formerly called the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey) is a follow-on to the 2022 Census of Agriculture. This survey provides the only comprehensive information on irrigation activities and water use across American farms, ranches, and horticultural operations. In responding to the survey, producers provide information on topics such as water sources and amount of water used, acres irrigated by type of system, and system investments and energy costs.

Just as with the Census of Agriculture, the Irrigation and Water Management Survey is conducted once every five years. NASS will survey a sample of all farmers who indicated on their Census of Agriculture form that they used irrigation on their operation or had land equipped with irrigation systems. Beginning in late November, Nass will begin data collection by mailing a letter to producers that contains a unique survey code and instructions on how to complete the survey online. This will be for producers who prefer to complete their survey electronically. For those who do not wish to file electronically, a paper questionnaire will be sent out in January.

In January of 2024, a paper questionnaire will be sent to all remaining respondents who did not participate electronically to complete their questionnaire. Producers will be able to respond by mail, online, telephone, or personal enumeration.

Water use is vital to nursery and horticulture operations. Nursery and horticulture operations account for a large portion of the American agricultural industry. To ensure that this important sector is accurately represented in agriculture water use reports, NASS made an extra effort to include nursery and horticulture producers in the Irrigation and Water Management Survey.

NASS is committed to providing timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. While the 2022 Census of Agriculture included questions about irrigation, it did not go into in-depth details. A survey specific to irrigation will allow NASS to publish more comprehensive information on this important practice. The results of this survey will aid in efforts to develop and promote efficient irrigation practices and ensure long-term sustainability of water resources.

Yes. Since the Irrigation and Water Management Survey is a supplement to the Census of Agriculture, federal law (Title 7, U.S. Code) requires all those who receive a survey to respond.

Absolutely. NASS keeps all individual information confidential as required by federal law (Title III of Pub. L. No. 115-435, codified in 44 U.S.C. Ch. 35). Only the tabulated totals will be available in any published reports. Your responses will not be shared with anyone, including other government agencies or under threat of subpoena.

Survey data are used by producers, farm organizations, businesses, state departments of agriculture, elected representatives and legislative bodies at all levels of government, public and private sector analysts, the news media, and colleges and universities. The data are used to:

• Compare water use by application method;
• Develop improved technologies;
• Develop Federal programs;
• Appraise water use trends;
• Assess impact of congressional legislation; and
• Evaluate the impact of irrigated crops by State.

Survey results will be available November 2024 online at www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. For additional information on 2023 Irrigation and Water Management Survey, Census of Agriculture or any other NASS survey, call the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540 or email us at nass@usda.gov