Authors: Michael Deliberto and Stacia Davis-Conger
As crops enter the summer growing season, irrigation activities will be closely monitored as rising energy prices and drought have the potential to substantially increase irrigation costs. The conflict in the Middle East has caused fuel prices to increase, impacting farm production costs as the agricultural economy continues to struggle.
Examples of a surface water and a deep well irrigation system (both furrow irrigation via poly pipe) were created using the performance assumptions presented in Table 1. Both diesel and electric power sources are explored. A noticeable difference in system design is the required engine size (120 hp vs 100 hp) to achieve a common flow rate of 2,500 GPM as energy needed to pump water to the surface increases with depth. For a wide range of recent electricity and diesel fuel prices, the electric power source is generally more efficient and cost effective.
Table 1. Performance and Energy Consumption assumptions for surface and well irrigation systems with diesel and electric power.
| Surface | Well | |||
| 2500 GPM / Engine | 100 hp | 120 hp | ||
| Run time per Acre-foot* | 2.172 hours | 2.172 hours | ||
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Electric | Diesel | Electric |
| Fuel Consumption rate** | 6.78 gal / hr | 84.7 kW | 8.136 gal / hr | 101.64 kW |
| Fuel Consumption per Acre-foot | 14.73 gal | 183.99 kWh | 17.67 gal | 220.79 kWh |
** diesel consumption = 0.0678 gallons/horsepower/hour
electric consumption = 0.847 kW / horsepower
Using Louisiana as an example, in an average year, furrow irrigation using poly pipe is expected to deliver 10.5 acre-inches of water in three applications throughout the growing season for corn, soybeans, and cotton crops. However, in a continuous flood system for rice, the number of acre-inches can vary from 20-26 in upwards of six applications. Irrigation pumping costs per acre are estimated for diesel and electric (Table 2) power options in surface and well irrigation systems.
Table 2. Irrigation diesel costs per-acre for varying fuel prices and applications
| Diesel Fuel Price per gallon | Surface | Well | Electricity Price per kWh* | ||||
| Row Crop Application at 10.5” | Rice Application at 24” | Row Crop Application at 10.5” | Rice Application at 24” | ||||
| $1.50 | $19.33 | $44.19 | $23.20 | $53.02 | $0.1201 | ||
| $2.00 | $25.77 | $58.91 | $30.93 | $70.70 | $0.1601 | ||
| $2.50 | $32.22 | $73.64 | $38.66 | $88.37 | $0.2001 | ||
| $3.00 | $38.67 | $88.38 | $46.39 | $106.04 | $0.2401 | ||
| $3.50 | $45.11 | $103.10 | $54.13 | $123.73 | $0.2802 | ||
| $4.00 | $51.55 | $117.83 | $61.86 | $141.39 | $0.3202 | ||
| $4.50 | $57.99 | $132.56 | $69.59 | $159.07 | $0.3602 | ||
| $5.00 | $64.44 | $147.30 | $77.32 | $176.74 | $0.4002 | ||
| $5.50 | $70.88 | $162.10 | $85.06 | $194.42 | $0.4403 | ||
| $6.00 | $77.32 | $176.74 | $92.79 | $212.04 | $0.4803 | ||
Variability in irrigation pumping costs can be observed in the following example for rice. Earlier this year, the diesel price was $3.00 per gallon. For a diesel-powered surface irrigation system applying 24 acre-inches of water, the total pumping costs would be $88.38 per acre. However, with a $5.00 per gallon fuel price, the pumping costs increase to $147.30 per acre. To irrigate a corn crop at 10.5 acre-inches for a surface system, pumping costs would increase from $38.67 to $64.44 per acre. These costs would only be magnified for a well system, as the cost per acre-inch is higher.
Table 2 also illustrates the general efficiency of electricity over diesel. The last column includes electric prices that would result in equivalent irrigation costs per acre for each level of diesel fuel price. With diesel at $5.00 per gallon, any electricity price less than $0.40/kWh would be more cost effective. Commercial electricity rates are generally in the range of $0.15 to $0.20/kWh. To match electric efficiency, diesel would have to be below $2.50/gallon.
This analysis illustrates the direct impact of energy prices on irrigation costs. Lingering drought conditions can further increase water pumping costs by increasing the frequency of application across all systems. The benefits obtained from utilizing existing strategies (e.g., weather-based scheduling, surge irrigation, bulk purchasing fuel) and cost-effective technologies (e.g., soil moisture sensors, automated pump control) to increase irrigation efficiency can produce long-term cost savings.
Recommended citation Format: Delbierto, Michael, and Stacia Davis-Conger.”Fuel Pricing Impacts Irrigation Pumping Costs Across All Systems.” Southern Ag Today 6(30.1). July 20, 2026. Permalink