Groundwater and Agricultural Bioenergy Feedstock Production Noel Gollehon Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA 2011 Ground Water Protection Council Annual Forum Atlanta GA September 26, 2011 September 27,2011
Goal of presentation Provide a National perspective on irrigated i agriculture Acres Water use Crops What do trends and current conditions tell us about the water and land potentially used for biofuel production? What are the groundwater implications?
U.S. irrigated acres & water applications 60 30 50 40 30 20 10 25 Million acres Inches water applied Irrigated Acres Water Applied 20 15 10 5 0 0 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2002 2004 2006 2008 Year Source: NRCS, based Census of Agriculture Data and Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey Data
Irrigation overview: Acres location, 2007 Source: USDA, 2007 Census of Agriculture
Total and agricultural water withdrawals (1960-2005) and consumptive use estimates (1960-1995) 500 llion acre e-feet 400 300 200 All Other Sectors Agriculture Mi 100 37% 84% 0 60 70 80 90 00 60 70 80 90 Withdrawals Consumptive Use* Source: USDA, NRCS, based on Kenny, et al, 2009 * Data limitations do not allow estimation of consumptive use in 2000.
U.S. Irrigation water withdrawals, 2005 Acre-feet (1,000) 70,000 000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Pacific Mountain Southern Northern East Central Eastern Plains Plains Groundwater Surface water Source: NRCS analysis of USGS Water Use data
What is all that irrigation water used for?
U.S. irrigated acreage, 2007 Acres (1,000) Cropland irrigated (%) 14,000 140 12,000 10,000 Irrigated acres Percent cropland irrigated 120 100 8,000 80 6,000 60 4,000 40 2,000 20 0 Pacific Mountain Northern Plains Southern Plains East-central Eastern 0 Source: NRCS analysis of Census of Agriculture Data
U.S. irrigated crops, 1969-2007 60 Percent of 2007 irrigated area 50 23% 40 30 20 7% 9% 14% 21% 10 13% 0 13% 1969 1974 1978 1982 1992 1997 2002 2007 Other crops Orchard & vegetables Hay Other grains Soybeans Cotton Corn Source: NRCS analysis of Census of Agriculture Data
Regional Irrigated cropping patterns, 2007 Corn Cotton Soybeans Other Grains Hay Orchards & vegetables Other crops Source: NRCS analysis of Census of Agriculture Data
How much water for an average corn field? 130 acre center-pivot field 12 inch application in 2008 (reduction from 14 in 2003) 42,357,120 gallons applied per year per field (27,152 * 12 * 130) States with >100,000 acres range from 21 to 85 million gallons per field 1,800 gallons /bu (based on average irrigated corn yield in 2008 of 181 bu/acre) Source: USDA, NASS, Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey
Gallons of irrigation water per bushel of irrigated corn, 2008 500-1,000 1,001-2,000 2,001-3,000 000 3,001-4,000 4,001-6,000 No data Source: NRCS based on Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey Data
Average irrigation water applications levels for selected crops, U.S., 2008 Sugarbeets Orchards Alfalfa Rice Berries Silage corn Veggies Potatoes Other Hay Other Crops Pasture Barley Wheat Other small Dry Beans Cotton Peanuts Corn Grain Sorghum Soybeans Tobacco 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Irrigation application (inches) Source: NRCS based on 2003 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey data.
Average irrigation water applications levels for selected crops, Nebraska, 2008 Pasture Orchards Other Hay Other small grains Sugarbeets Potatoes Veggies Alfalfa Dry Beans Other Crops Wheat Silage Corn Corn Soybeans Grain Sorghum 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Irrigation application (inches) Source: NRCS based on 2003 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey data
Average irrigation water applications levels for selected crops, Kansas, 2008 Orchards Alfalfa Silage corn Corn Pasture Other Hay Soybeans Grain Sorghum Veggies Dry Beans Wheat Other Crops Cotton 0 5 10 15 20 Irrigation application (inches) Source: NRCS based on 2003 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey data
Biofuel feedstock production and potential irrigation water demand
The Ethanol Experiment from 2002 to 2007 2002-2007 Corn acres 26% Irrigated corn acres 36% Corn production 48% Corn exports 53% Corn ethanol use 275% Corn price 81% Source: NRCS, based on Census of Agriculture and ERS data
Regional crop shifts from 2002 to 2007, selected irrigated crops Pacific Mountain Corn Wheat Soybeans Cotton Southern Plains Northern Plains East Central Eastern -1000-500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 Change in acres (1,000) Source: NRCS, based on Census of Agriculture data
Irrigated corn share and current ethanol plant locations
High Plains Aquifer remaining and current & planned ethanol plant locations Source: NRCS based on 1999 USGS Digital map data and 2010 Renewable Fuels Association data.
Gallons of irrigation water per gallon of cornbased ethanol, 2008 185-370 371-740 741-1,110 1110 1,111-1,480 1,481-2,222 No data Assuming all feedstock irrigated converting at 2.7 gallons per bushel. Source: NRCS based on Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey Data
Groundwater used for irrigation and the estimated ethanol share Non-irrigation use Irrigation, all other crops Irrigation, corn other uses Irrigation, corn for ethanol Source: NRCS analysis of RFS, FRIS, and USGS water use data
The Ethanol Experiment Continues 2002-2007 2002-2010 Corn acres 26% 20% Irrigated corn acres 36%?? Corn production 48% 45% Corn exports 53% 25%* Corn ethanol use 275% 400%** Corn price 81% 130% # * 2009 data ** Projected # Percentage based on corn at $5.40 per bushel, current price is $7.54 per bushel Source: NRCS, based on Census of Agriculture and ERS data
Biofuel Feedstock Summary In the short run, increased agricultural production for biofuels has not dramatically altered the national view of water use. Growing crops for next generation of biofuel production will have a more significant regional and local impact In some cases an increase in water use In other cases a decrease, depending on the crops being ggrown now and the biofuel crops produced In some cases an impact on groundwater by driving demand for irrigation water
National Irrigation Overview Summary Irrigation is: A leading sector for water withdrawals; The dominant sector for consumptive water use; Characterized by large volumes of applied water that t can vary greatly by crop and region; and An important, widespread agricultural practice. Irrigation with Groundwater is: Located in all regions; and The major water source for agricultural production in eastern 2/3 of the Nation.
Thank you! Noel Gollehon 301-504-1763 Noel.Gollehon@wdc.usda.gov