Rock Creek Station, Fairbury
0618

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The Value of Irrigation


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Even though it is only May, the irrigation season is right around the corner.  Hopefully, we will receive timely rains this year so that dryland crop yields return to more typical numbers and the reliance on our irrigation systems will be less than last year.  According to survey data found on the United States Department of Agriculture website, non-irrigated corn in Nebraska yielded 59 bushels per acre in 2012.  This was the lowest total bushels per acre since similar yields were experienced in 1983.  The five years prior to 2012 resulted in total bushels per acre ranging from 125 to 149 in Nebraska.

 On the other hand, irrigated corn yields in Nebraska yielded 190 bushels per acre in 2012, which was the second highest year in history only eclipsed by the 198 bushels per acre experienced in 2009.  Nebraska irrigated corn yields during the five years prior to 2012 ranged from 180 to 198 bushels per acre.  During the 2007 to 2011 time period, irrigated acres yielded around 50 bushels per acre more than non-irrigated acres.

 The latest information, which is 2008 data, reported by the USDA regarding the types of fuel used by Nebraska irrigators shows that over 50% of the pumps in Nebraska are fueled by electricity, nearly 30% are fueled by diesel, around 10% are fueled by natural gas with various other fuel types fueling the remaining pumps.

 Norris irrigation customers have the opportunity to choose among three different rate schedules.  The rate schedule charges are designed to recover costs incurred by the District.  Irrigation costs are influenced by the type of service taken, single phase or three phase; the maximum power the irrigation system can draw from the electrical system measured in horsepower or kilowatts; the probability that the irrigation system will be operating during one of the District’s electrical system peak billing hours, which is known as diversity; the amount of energy measured in kilowatt-hours the irrigation system draws from the District’s electrical system over the course of the year; and the amount of labor and equipment required to service the account. 

 One of the significant drivers of costs incurred by the District is whether the irrigation service is operating on the District’s peak billing hour.  Power purchased by the District during the heat of the day is more expensive than during the night when less power is typically consumed across the electric grid.  Each irrigator must evaluate the value of having the ability to use their electric pump anytime that they choose or take advantage of lower electric rates with the trade-off of delaying the use of their irrigation pump to hours that are less expensive for the District. 

 An irrigation customer guide is included with spring capacity bills sent to irrigators in March.  This guide includes current rate schedules and provides information regarding the various load control communication options for irrigators.

 If you have any questions or thoughts regarding your irrigation service or District irrigation policies, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our offices.  District personnel are available to assist you with evaluating the different types of fuel sources for your operation and explaining the various rate schedule options. 

Norris Public Power District ©2013