Irrigation · December 2025 · 5 min read
A farm water budget matches your total water supply against all demands across the growing season, identifying potential shortfalls before they become crises. Crop irrigation, livestock watering, processing, and household needs all compete for the same limited supply. Planning seasonal water needs ensures you can meet peak demand without running wells dry or depleting storage.
Crop water use is measured as evapotranspiration (ET), which varies by crop, growth stage, and weather. Corn requires 20-25 inches of water during the growing season, with peak demand of 0.30-0.35 inches per day during tasseling. Soybeans need 18-22 inches total, while vegetables vary from 12-30 inches depending on crop and season length.
Subtract effective rainfall from crop ET to calculate net irrigation requirements.
Livestock water consumption increases dramatically in hot weather. A lactating dairy cow drinks 30-50 gallons per day, while beef cattle need 12-20 gallons. Poultry, swine, and horses each have specific requirements that scale with temperature.
Know your well yield in gallons per minute and calculate how many hours of pumping are needed to meet daily peak demand. A well producing 50 GPM delivers 3,000 gallons per hour or 72,000 gallons in a 24-hour pumping cycle. Compare this to your peak daily demand to determine whether supplemental storage is needed.
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Check Local WeatherDesign your water system for peak demand, not average demand. Peak irrigation demand typically occurs in July and August when temperatures are highest and rainfall is least reliable. Add a 20% safety margin to calculated peak demand to account for drought years and equipment limitations. Storage ponds, tanks, or reservoirs bridge the gap between well capacity and peak flow requirements.