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Energy and Water Conservation
<br />Over the past five years, 70,336 farms implemented chang-
<br />es in equipment or management practices that reduced
<br />energy or water use. Nearly 39 percent of these farms
<br />reported reduced energy costs and 58 percent reduced the
<br />amount of water applied.
<br />The number of farms using private irrigation specialists or
<br />crop consultants to help reduce irrigation costs or con-
<br />serve water nearly doubled to 32,462 farms. An additional
<br />13,036 farms used electronic information services (DTN,
<br />Internet sites, and links to private or public databases) as
<br />an information source.
<br />Expenses for Maintenance and Repairs of
<br />Irrigation Equipment and Facilities
<br />Total expenses for maintenance and repairs in 2003 were
<br />down 3 percent from 1998 to $491.7 million.
<br />Expenses for Maintenance and Repairs of Irrigation
<br />Equipment and Facilities: 1998 and 2003
<br />Percent
<br />1998 2003 Change
<br />Farms 138,725 119,952 -14
<br />Acres irrigated 44,364,141 40,014,045 -10
<br />Total expenses 508,199,000 491,705,000 -3
<br />Dollars per farm 3,663 4,099 +12
<br />Source: USDA - NASS 2003 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey
<br />Energy Expenses
<br />Farmers and ranchers powered 11,284 fewer pumps in
<br />2003, but their energy expenses for the 497,443 pumps
<br />used rose 17 percent from 1998 to $1.55 billion. Electricity
<br />continues to be the leading energy source, accounting
<br />for 61 percent of the total energy costs.
<br />The North Dakota Irrigation
<br />Frontier pages are provided by
<br />the North Dakota Irrigation
<br />Association with the support
<br />of the following sponsors:
<br />Another 360 farms also reported irrigating 16,430 acres
<br />with 411 pumps which were powered by solar or other
<br />renewable energy sources.
<br />Energy Expenses for Pumps
<br />(Total - $1.55 billion)
<br />Electricity ........................ ...........................$953 million
<br />Diesel fuel .............................. ....................$282 million
<br />Natural gas .................. ............................... $281 million
<br />LP gas, propane, and butane ...................... $ 34 million
<br />Gasoline and gasohol ..... ............................... $ 2 million
<br />Source: USDA - NASS 2003 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey
<br />Investments in Irrigation Equipment,
<br />Facilities, and Land Improvement
<br />In 2003, farmers and ranchers spent $1.13 billion on irriga-
<br />tion investments with 85 percent used for replacements or
<br />new expansions and the vast majority receiving no public
<br />funding assistance.
<br />Investments in Irrigation Equipment, Facilities,
<br />and Land Improvement: 1998 and 2003
<br />Percent
<br />1998 2003 Change
<br />Farms 70,304 86,174 +23
<br />Acres irrigated 25,594,276 26,674,941 +4
<br />Investment ($000) $1,161,404 $1,125,125 -3
<br />Dollars per farm $16,520 $13,056 -21
<br />Source: USDA - NASS 2003 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey
<br />Irrigation Labor
<br />In 2003, 62,260 farms with irrigation spent $657 million
<br />on hired and contract labor for irrigation activities, with 90
<br />percent going toward hired labor.
<br />An electronic version of the 2003 Farm and Ranch
<br />Irrigation Survey report is available free through the
<br />NASS website at www.usda.gov /nass /.
<br />No r t h D a k D t a Busch Agricultural
<br />e �ROmi n iowR Rr rRaR e "v Resources, Inc.
<br />ONE OF 1NE AMNEUSER- RUSCt� t; "'. .....
<br />BND OMONTANA- DAKOTA
<br />BANK OF NORTH DAKOTA
<br />uos UTILITIES CO, M »Vn orn euwNCrc ADnison o(7DU
<br />Resowces Group, Inc.
<br />North Dakota Water ■ May 2005 15
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